From the outside, new Parkland is a modern building, conveniently located at a DART stop with plenty of parking just steps from the building.
From the inside, new Parkland is a technological marvel that’s part Disney, part Star Trek.
Either way, Parkland may just become a hospital of choice for people in Dallas, not just the hospital of necessity.
The new building is filled with innovations beyond what any other hospital in the world has … yet.
Patients arriving by helicopter will be taken by megavator from the rooftop helipad directly to the first floor trauma rooms. The trip will take 32 seconds in dedicated elevators that moves 600 feet per minute. Currently the trip to emergency is counted in minutes not seconds.
Patient rooms are equipped with state-of-the-art TV screens that are not just for entertainment, but play health education videos in 14 languages, can be used to retrieve email, order meals and have cameras that allow nurses to see patients from outside the room and doctors to Skype with patients when not in the hospital.
Smart beds alert staff when a patient at risk for a fall is about to get out of bed.
Each room has a separate documentation station both inside and outside the room.
Linen and trash are whisked away from patient floor by hydraulic chutes and deposited in another building. The only linen carts will be those bringing clean linen to the floor.
Operating rooms are large and outfitted with hi-definition monitors to assist in procedures. Pre-op and post-op are separate facilities.
The new building is also part Disney. Patients have windows with beautiful views and visitors have their own elevators and sittings rooms. Provider rooms are “off-stage.” Staff uses elevators in the center of the building that connect to services visitors and patients never see.
And did they need to cut any amenities originally planned but that became unaffordable as the project progressed? The entire project came in under budget and all services, technology and innovations are included in the final product.
Some stats:
• 17 floors, with helipad on 18th floor (roof), and 6 buildings
• “Megavator” (trauma elevator) can go from the helipad to the ER in 32 seconds
• 2.8 million square feet (current Parkland 1.2 million square feet)
• 862 single patient rooms average 320 square feet (current Parkland semi-private 225 square feet)
• 154 emergency department treatment rooms
• 27 surgical suites (current Parkland 18 operating rooms)
• Average operating room size – 620 square feet at NPH; 325 square feet at current Parkland
• Ambulance parking – 11 spaces at NPH; 6 spaces at current Parkland
• Burn intensive care unit – 12 beds at NPH; 9 beds at current Parkland
• Burn acute care unit – 18 beds at NPH; 17 beds at current Parkland
• 83 adult ICU rooms
• 44 labor and delivery rooms, 4 shelled – total of 48
• 96 neonatal ICU rooms at NPH (90 at current Parkland)
• Neonatal pharmacy – 2,600 square feet at NPH; 100 square feet at current Parkland