with their location. Elements of nature are found throughout the new hospital. Los Angeles-based designers, CO Architects, embraced Palomar Health’s goal of creating a healing environment that includes the presence of nature and natural light. “There are studies that say it helps with the healing process,” Sanchez said. Each floor contains terraces with garden spaces and sitting areas. On the third floor, vibrant, red-flowered Coral trees stand out amongst tables and chairs on the café patio. From here, visitors have another expansive view of the city in one direction and a look at the green roof in the other. The 1.5-acre green roof is located above the two-story wing that houses the Emergency Department and Trauma Services. The wavy cover is home to drought-tolerant plants that look like an extension of the surrounding landscape, including native grasses, wild buckwheat, sage scrub and “Our Lord’s Candle” yuccas. Large, circular skylights allow for natural illumination in the operating rooms below. Green roofs insulate and reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool buildings. They also filter rainwater before it reaches storm drains. Hospital officials estimate that they will recover the cost to build the special roof with energy savings within seven years. Palomar Medical Center 2185 W. Citracado Parkway Escondido. Services: Emergency and Trauma Cardiology Surgical Services Orthopedics Neurosciences Interventional Radiology and Cath Lab Medical Oncology Imaging Inpatient Rehabilitation Services Laboratory
Palomar Health Downtown Campus 555 E. Valley Parkway Escondido Services: 24-hour Urgent Care (no emergency services) Maternity and Women’s Services Pediatrics/Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Inpatient Behavioral Health Inpatient Rehabilitation Services Cardiac Rehabilitation Radiation Oncology Ambulatory Surgery Infusion Therapy Outpatient Rehabilitation Services Imaging Laboratory Diagnostic Services
High Tech The “Hospital of the Future” isn’t all birds and trees. Designers aimed to balance a serene environment with the latest in healthcare technology. High-tech features can be spotted throughout the building. Next to the lobby reception desk, there is a touchscreen kiosk for hands-on information access. For those more inclined to speak with a person, there will be staff at the desk to point patients and visitors in the right direction. On patient floors there aren’t traditional nursing stations. The floors were designed to house computer workstations outside each patient room, keeping staff closer to patients and minimizing the walking nurses have to do along the 100-yard corridors. The hospital was constructed to support not only systems available today, like wireless communication and electronic record keeping, but also technology that is still in development. One such device in the making can continuously monitor and record heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygenation and blood pressure. The measurements automatically upload to electronic records for hospital staff to review. The system can substitute for routine, in-person checks. Growth and expansion
To stay within budget, project overseers concentrated on the clinical and technological aspects of the hospital. The Hospital of the Important dates: Future was deemed as such, in part because it was built with the Public welcome and encouraged to attend the grand opening celebration, July 28. expectation to expand with the population of the community and as New hospital open for patients, August 19. the demand for services increases. To volunteer, call 760.739.3081.
Seventy-two patient rooms, two public elevators, and treatment 24
ESCONDIDO
SUMMER 2012