As area families arrived on the new hospital campus, they first entered a massive white tent allowing them to retreat from the frigid winter winds. Upon entering, to their amazement guests were greeted to a warm spring garden fully embellished with various shrubbery and plant-life. They were each given a steaming cup of hot coco to enjoy as they walked along the path listening to the talents of various local musicians and performance artists before entering the Hospitals new front entrance.
A Behind the Scenes Tour
Once guests entered the new hospital's main lobby, they were treated to a 45-minute self-guided walking tour through several areas in the hospital including the emergency department, imaging, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit, private medical-surgical patient rooms, Women and Infant Services Birthing Center, and Intensive Care Unit. In the new Procedural Care Unit, which consolidates surgery, endoscopy and interventional cardiology and radiology procedures into one integrated area, visitors viewed the hospital's newest technology-the Davinci. This robotic surgical system is designed to facilitate complex surgery using a minimally invasive approach and is controlled by a surgeon from a console. The Davinci robot is commonly used for prostatectomies and hysterectomies.
"This was area residents opportunity to get a sneak peek before we open our doors on Feb. 26," said Paul Pawlak, President and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital. "We took them into areas that most people never have a chance to see such as the operating room and interventional core which includes the cath lab, interventional radiology lab, electrophysiology suite where doctors repair fast beating hearts and insert pacemakers, and where our brand new biplane angiography imaging system will be located to treat patients with strokes later this summer."
Family Fun
In addition to the exclusive tour, guests were entertained by the talents from the Sandburg High School Choir, Joliet Folk Lorico Dancers, Lincoln Way West High School Choir, and the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Music Ministry. Also, the Joliet Slammers' mascots-Spikes and J.L. Bird were at the opening celebration along with 2011 Frontier League Championship Cup. Further, there was even a "Name the Robot" Contest in which tour participants had a chance to win a Sony Bloggie Touch video camera. In addition, all guests who pre-registered for a hospital tour were entered in a raffle to win a KINDLE FIRE. The winners of the KINDLE FIRE are Daniel Wheelock, Joliet; Jennifer Castro, New Lenox; and April Wong Loi Sing, Mokena.
New Hospital Opening Feb. 26, 2012
Construction began on the $370 million replacement hospital in 2009. The 6-story facility was built using evidence-based design, which has been proven to help in the healing process and contribute to a speedier recovery for patients. Some of the many ways that evidence-based design has been integrated into the 289-bed replacement hospital is with large, private patient rooms, natural and enhanced lighting, sound and noise control, cheerful yet calming colors, ties to nature, bedside care and dedicated family areas. When the new hospital opens at 7 a.m. on Feb. 26, patients and families will also benefit from new technology and expanded services through partnerships with renowned academic centers including Children's Memorial Hospital, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, and most recently, the University of Chicago Medical Center (UCMC). UCMC and Silver Cross are currently building an outpatient cancer center that will open in April 2012 on the New Lenox campus.
"We are building on our century old commitment to the Will County community by relocating our seven-time 100 Top Hospital care to a state-of-the-art facility that will serve future generations," said Pawlak.
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