New home for County-USC Medical Center
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The facility, just down the hill from the old hospital, will bring all services together in three interconnected state-of-the-art buildings. A look at how new and old compare:
Existing hospital
Licensed beds: 824
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New hospital
Licensed beds: 600
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What becomes of the old hospital
Bottom four floors: Offices
All other floors: Closed
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Clinic Tower
Outpatient lobby and pharmacy
Radiation and oncology
Dental, pediatric, orthopedic and women’s clinics
Four surgery clinics; neurology
Clinical labs
Medical records, cashier, billing
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Diagnostic and Treatment building
Admitting, registration
Emergency department
24-hour radiology
Inpatient pharmacy
Clinical and core labs; MRI; CT scan
25 operating rooms
Surgery and special procedures
Gift and coffee shops; helipad
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Seismic safeguards
This building sits on a network of rubber base isolators that allow the building to move 24 inches in any horizontal direction.
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Inpatient tower
Acute care; obstetrics, neonatal care
Labor and delivery room
Intensive care units
Medical psych unit
Vascular lab; neurology
Burn unit; jail unit
Administration; patient lobby
Outdoor grill; cafeteria; dining for public and staff
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One bed to a room
About 90% of the patient rooms in the new hospital will have a single bed. In the old hospital most of the rooms held from two to six patients.
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Automated transport system saves time, curbs infection
The new hospital will use a fleet of 35 laser-guided carts running along a dedicated corridor to transport biohazardous waste, linens and patient meals. A computer workstation will control the carts.
Purpose: Increase efficiency, minimize cross contamination
Drive time: 10 minutes, end to end
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Less clutter in the OR
Most equipment in the operating rooms is mounted overhead on joystick-controlled movable booms.
1. Surgical light: High intensity, with mirror reflectors to filter heat away from patient.
2. Surgical LED light with camera: Consistent color, low-energy use. Camera is in the center handle.
3. Video monitor: Light/camera provides sharp images for surgeons or for classrooms nearby.
4. Control panel: Joystick controls each device and boom.
Boom system is expandable.
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A more efficient layout
Treatment at the old hospital was hampered by the location of various facilities. A look at how a visit to the old and new hospitals via a medivac helicopter varies:
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Sources: County-USC Medical Center; Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.
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Recent regional explainer graphics are available at latimes.com/localgraphics
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Matt Moody Los Angeles Times
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