Evidence-Based Design
From the moment patients and visitors step into the new Palomar Medical Center, they will experience a world-class facility whose theme embodies the notion that nature promotes a sense of calm and healing.
The energy-saving, innovative wavy green roof features native drought-resistant vegetation. Soothing seafoam green glass intersected with sand-colored tile comprises one wall of the Garden Terrace Café, one of the hospital’s restaurants. The main lobby, designed by people experienced in creating successful cruise ship environments, reflects the openness of the three-story main entrance.
While the goal is to create a sense of calm for all who enter the building, a variety of evidence-based design features will restore health, help patients go home more quickly, improve safety and enhance staff well-being and morale. Some of those design advancements include:
All-Private Patient Rooms
The 288 patient rooms average 320 square feet in size and include a private bathroom and family visiting area with a sleeper couch for overnight stays. Because the rooms are larger, they can accommodate portable medical equipment and thus, minimize the need to move patients throughout the hospital.
Rooms will feature:
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ceiling-mounted exam lights
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extra-wide doors
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edge-free showers
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motorized patient lifts
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automated water faucets
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bedside control pads
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24-hour room service
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Patient storage closet
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Dedicated family area
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Curved wall with handrail near restroom to minimize falls
Distributed Nursing Stations
No more centralized nursing stations. Instead, the new PMC is outfitted with distributed nursing stations outside the patient room, allowing nurses to be closer to the bedside and respond more quickly to patient needs. Each workstation is wired as a communications hub for maintaining electronic medical records that are accessible to physicians and staff through a secure wireless network.
