SPRING VALLEY HOSPITAL: Filling an unhealthy void

New facility should ease shortage of beds when it opens Oct. 1

First it was a foundation. Then the shell of a building appeared. Now residents are seeing a new hospital taking shape at 5400 S. Rainbow Blvd.

The $70 million Spring Valley Hospital, a member of the Valley Health System, is slated to open Oct. 1, a month ahead of projections. The 176-bed facility sits on 355 acres just north of the Beltway.

With the valley's rapid growth, the hospital is sure to be a welcome addition.

"All the statistics indicate a severe shortage of hospital beds in the region," said Michael Harter, vice dean of the University of Nevada School of Medicine. "So a new hospital opening is greatly appreciated."

Harter cited these statistics: The acute-care bed count for 2000 was 3,018 with the demand at 3,094. Projections for 2005, taking into account hospitals now being built, show the number of hospital beds at 3,868 with a demand of 4,297.

While large hospitals such as Sunrise, Valley and University Medical Center have about 500 beds each, the trend is to build smaller facilities, Harter said. But it isn't just hospitals where the needs have to be met.

"In order to accommodate our growing population, health care has to (keep up) in all areas," Harter said. "Pediatrics, obstetrics, all areas."

Spring Valley Hospital's intensive care unit will open with 39 beds. There are about 220,000 residents at 75,000 addresses within a five-mile radius of the new hospital, and it is about 12 miles from Summerlin Hospital, Desert Springs Hospital, Siena Hospital and UMC.

Considering that last bit of information, the Spring Valley Hospital's slogan seems fitting: "Quality Care Close to Home."

The building has 180,000 square feet on the first floor, with a total of 300,00 square feet. It's so large that new employees will take part in a scavenger hunt to help them learn the layout.

Designed by HKS Inc., a Dallas architectural firm known for its medical facilities, the hospital's flow is already getting high marks from those who will work there. To keep things from bottlenecking in the emergency room, for example, ambulance crews will have an entry port separate from emergency cases brought by private car.

"I call them the walking wounded and the drive-in wounded," said Karla Perez, chief executive officer and managing director, during a hard hat tour.

Ambulances also will have a dedicated driveway to avoid conflicts with the regular hospital traffic. There is easy access from the helicopter pad to the emergency room.

"The biggest thing for me is that it's so well-designed," said John Wilson, president and owner of Southwest Ambulance. "The flow makes so much sense."

The facility will use the latest technology -- not just for procedures but for everyday tasks. The innovations include express check-in via touch-screen monitors and bedside registration, which is nearly paperless. Patients' hospital records and medication intake will be on computer. X-rays and similar tests done at the hospital will be available via computer to family physicians off the property so they can more efficiently handle follow-up care.

The emergency room area has two rooms dedicated to cardiac emergencies and two trauma rooms, although the hospital will not open with a trauma unit. There are 47 bays around the emergency room perimeter. Some are fast-track bays, and some are private.

The imaging department, often vital to quickly determine the extent of emergency injuries, is located only a few feet away. Perez said the emergency room can handle 100 patients if necessary.

Outpatient care will be separate from emergency care, and the women's health component has its own area. The Senior Dimensions program has a dedicated area as well.

Spring Valley Hospital will open with six operating rooms. Forty recovery bays include Barcaloungers, the latest trend for a surgery patient's comfort.

The lobby uses earthy colors and will have an art gallery. Ceilings are high and there are architectural accents such as dramatic pillars in the entry. Large windows in another area look onto a courtyard.

The hospital was built with expansion in mind. The third story on the south side of the property is now a shell. It will be finished as needed. In the future, two towers can be added without disrupting the flow of the layout.

The facility expects to open with about 230 employees, a number that will swell to 600 as departments get up and running. At its first job fair, the hospital had 700 attendees and is processing 1,500 applications.

The main number for the hospital will be 853-3000. Its Web site is www.springvalley hospital.com.


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