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When the work is finished - all eight phases of it - the facilities will "match current technology needs and allow for future expansion of technology and patient volume," says Gary Hall, Regional Vice President, Facility Services for the medical center. First on the list is the $4.5 million, state-of-the-art birthing center that will allow mothers to go through labor, delivery and recovery in one private room. Another phase will add about 14,000 square feet to the emergency room, essentially doubling its size and making way for a refurbished public entry, new public restrooms and a new main north-south corridor. Three medical/surgical cardiology floors will be renovated, enlarging the rooms by about 30 percent. Two beds will be added to the critical-care unit for a total of 18. "The extensive renovations will create more space and privacy for patients while bringing the facility in line with modern technologies," Hall says. The medical center is already one of the most computerized in the state. For example, a central computer repository allow doctors at all points in the system - including those in other PeaceHealth-affiliated hospitals - to view patients' updated, comprehensive medical history immediately. "No matter where the patient is in the continuum of care, this information is available," says Marilyn Davis, Regional Director, Technology Services. "There's no waiting for faxed information." Another advanced program, PatientConnection, allows people to look up their accounts, pay bills online, request an appointment or e-mail questions to participating doctors through a secure Web site. Coming innovations will include a system that allows patients to see their lab results online - a boon for people with chronic diseases who manage their own medications. "We have made significant investments in technology regionally and at the system level," Davis says. "I'm hoping it pays off in reduced cost and improved safety for the patient. That's the ultimate goal." The renovation is an investment in our community's health and there are many opportunities for you to help. Learn more by visiting the St. John Foundation's web site. Ready, Set, GROW!
About 14,000 square feet will be added to the emergency department in the next few years, essentially doubling its size and making way for a renovated public entry, public restrooms and a new main north-south corridor. "It will be a vast improvement," says Dr. Paul Schneider, Medical Director of emergency medical services at St. John Medical Center. "We'll be able to see patients more efficiently." Like the rest of the medical center, the emergency department continually upgrades its equipment to stay abreast of rapid technological advances. Some recent acquisitions includes a new MRI machine and a new hand-held ultrasound that conducts fast examinations for abdominal trauma and other internal problems. The emergency department is a Level III Trauma Center, providing prompt assessment, resuscitation, emergency surgery and stabilization. It meets rigorous standards of best practices and includes a highly skilled staff of trauma-trained nurses. "Our emergency department is an incredible resource for all individuals who live in Cowlitz County," says Deborah Blake Swennes, the medical center's Regional Vice President of Patient Care Services. "They can be assured that they will be appropriately treated with the most current care practices." New Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - September 2005
MRI machines use a powerful magnetic field and radio signals to provide detailed pictures of the organs, blood vessels and other parts of the body. Therefore, the room for the new machine had to be completely sheathed in copper to block radio and television signals that would otherwise mar the images. The new machine cuts scanning time from an hour to about 40 minutes. Shorter scans mean children and nervous patients won't be as stressed and there's less chance the procedure will have to be repeated because the patient moved. Patients can also bring their own CDs to play during the procedure. Even the room was designed with patient comfort in mind. The ceiling is bathed in blue light and sports fiber optic stars - not your normal hospital environment. It's great news for our community.
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A $46 million
The emergency department at St. John Medical Center has
one of the busiest ERs in the state, treating some 50,000 patients each
year. But emergency-room visits have increased by about 2,000
each year for the past decade, with no signs of slowing, making it necessary
for the hospital to expand its facility.
The
GE Exite HD 1.5 T MRI is the latest technology available. It
provides patients and their physicians with quicker, clearer images, and
the opportunity to do procedures such as cardiovascular MRIs. The new MRI
puts St. John at the forefront of imaging services when combined with the
digital X-ray system (PACS) and the computer tomography (CT)
machine.