CAMDEN, N.J., Dec. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural light cascades down on the bamboo filled lobby as visitors gather in the coffee shop sipping lattes and eating gelato. No, this is not a five-star hotel; this is the new patient Pavilion at Cooper University Hospital. Cooper celebrated the largest expansion on the Health Sciences Campus in 30-years with a spectacular "Grand Lighting" of the Pavilion.
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Today, the new centerpiece of Camden held its grand opening of the $220 million, 312,000 square-foot, 10-story patient Pavilion.
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"This new Pavilion marks a rebirth for the hospital and this great city we have called home for more than 120 years," said George E. Norcross, III, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Cooper University Hospital. "We have come so far to be able to provide this incredible building to the patients of our region. Our already existing superior care is now matched by a facility that casts shadows on others in the region."
Since its inception in 1887, Cooper has been a lifeline for the City of Camden and the surrounding communities. Over 25,000 patients receive state-of-the-art medical care here every year. This new patient Pavilion allows Cooper to expand its services and care for even more patients.
"For Cooper University Hospital, this Pavilion is the culmination of an eight year project that has involved all levels of hospital employees," said John P. Sheridan, Cooper President and CEO. "So many of our employees have worked tirelessly through this construction to ensure that this dream came to fruition. For all of us, this opening feels like Christmas Day has arrived two weeks early."
Patients who are cared for in the new Pavilion will appreciate several special features in each patient room. All rooms are private, enhancing patients' sleep and allowing fewer interruptions from unfamiliar visitors and caregivers. According to the Center for Healthcare Design, private rooms reduce the rate of infection within the hospital. Furthermore, this provides the patient with more privacy and comfort within his or her room. The rooms are built on a diagonal, allowing for improved staff visualization of the patient. The rooms are separated into two areas, the family portion of the room and a nursing/staff area. The family portion, next to the window, offers a place for a family member to spend the night in a convertible sleep accommodation, and includes a small desk and other furniture for visitors.
Patient rooms and all of the improved amenities that are encompassed in the Pavilion are geared toward creating a healing environment. The same high-tech care that Cooper has always provided will now be delivered in a more serene, patient-centered atmosphere.
"Overall, this $220 million Pavilion expansion is proof of the bond that this institution has with Camden. Cooper University Hospital has been a proud constituent of Camden for a very long time," said Mr. Norcross. "We are committed to the revitalization of this great city. Our expansion and improvements not only enhance health care in this city, we also hope that it will stimulate further business development and opportunity."
Highlights of the New $220 Million Pavilion:
Cooper, the leading healthcare provider for South Jersey, is expanding its operations by adding:
-- New 10-story, 312,000-square-foot patient care pavilion -- 12 new operating room suites -- 60 private medical/surgical rooms -- New technologically advanced 30-bed Intensive Care Unit -- 12,000-square-foot addition to the Emergency Department (2010) -- Elaborate laboratory automation facility -- Campus re-orientation from Haddon Avenue to Martin Luther King Boulevard with new front entrance and drop-off zone -- Expanded, customer friendly, public lobby space with new restaurant, health resource center, business center, gift shop, coffee shop and chapel -- Future expansion space for up to 120 additional beds and imaging/procedure suites
SOURCE Cooper University Hospital
