Expansion and remodeling of Los Robles Hospital nearly complete
By Nancy Needham nancy@theacorn.com

It's almost here: "The Four Seasons of hospitals" is how CEO Jim Sherman describes the newly expanded Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center.

The hospital will nearly double in size by adding a 200,000-square-foot patient wing that includes lots of perks for patients and staff.

The date of the new wing's opening was moved up a month--to Aug. 12--to coincide with the expected 10-day closure of St. John's Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. St. John's will be clearing up a mold situation at that time, officials said, and the added accommodations at Los Robles will be especially helpful.

Those seeking medical treatment in mid-August will find 90 new private patient rooms at Los Robles and 10 private registration rooms, where patients can feel comfortable giving personal information when they first arrive at the hospital. It also has elevators designated for patients and staff only, separate from those for public use.

No longer will visitors have to squeeze in an elevator while trying not to invade the space of a patient on a gurney, and who's clad only in a hospital gown, with tubes protruding from his body.

The halls in the new wing appear wider now because space is no longer taken up by empty gurneys and other hospital devices. The new wing offers large storage areas for such items, Sherman said.

The wood-paneled hallways are now covered with brightly colored artwork. Flowers and landscape scenes are everywhere.

Arches in hallways add style and space overhead. The threestory lobby features windows that look out to a rose garden and mature trees that until recently were in crates in the parking area, waiting to be replanted.

The concept for the $120-million project was approved seven years ago. Groundbreaking took place July 28, 2004, and construction began in November 2004.

"We're giving the community the hospital they've deserved for a long time, to go along with the great outpatient and inpatient care they've been getting," Sherman said.

The hospital will continue to provide valet service when the new wing opens so those arriving can pull into the turnaround, leave their cars with attendants and walk into the lobby as if it were a hotel, he said.

Those coming in for surgery will enjoy conveniences: Right past the private registration rooms patients can check in for preoperative procedures, including blood work, X-rays and electrocardiograms. No more being wheeled all over the hospital to get those tests, Sherman said.

On each floor caseworkers, who monitor the care of certain patients, will now have offices near nursing stations to more efficiently assist the patients, Sherman said.

Patients in private rooms will each wear a wristband with a barcode that identifies various needs, including prescriptions. Each room will have a locked cupboard where the patient's personal prescriptions will be automatically dispensed to the nurse according to barcodes on the wristbands and on the medication.

And instead of a binder of paper records hooked to the end of the bed the old-fashioned way, a computer in each room will let doctors and nurses input information right there beside the patient's bed.

Also near the bed will be a reclining chair for a loved one who wants to spend the night next to the patient, Sherman said.

"The whole hospital will have wireless Internet access," he said.

Visitor waiting areas are broken into two sections: One for those who want to wait quietly and the other with a TV for those who need a distraction, Sherman said.

Staff lounges have windows, refrigerators and microwaves. Courtyards are equipped with tables and chairs for lunches and snacks. And there are benches for those who'd like solitude outside of the hospital setting.

As soon as patients and medical service areas are moved into the new wing, renovation of the rest of the hospital will begin. The goal is to match the older side of the hospital with the new area and make the two appear seamless to the public, Sherman said.