California's Newest Hospital Opens Today

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- California's newest hospital – Hoag Hospital Irvine – opened today.  The hospital immediately becomes one of the premier community health care facilities in Southern California.

The new hospital replaces the closed hospital facility formerly known as Irvine Regional Hospital and Medical Center. Hoag entered a long-term lease agreement for the closed hospital property and completely renovated it to meet modern health care standards.  The $84 million effort opened on schedule and within budget.

Robert Braithwaite (brayth-wait), chief administrative officer for Hoag Hospital Irvine, says that opening a new hospital today with advanced medical technology is a significant accomplishment.

"In the midst of national health care reform and an economic downturn, we are pleased to be able to bring a new state-of-the-art hospital online.  The additional health care services and creation of more than 900 new jobs are welcomed in Orange County."

The new hospital features:

• Advanced operating rooms with new technology that supports modern minimally invasive surgical techniques, including image-guided surgeries;
• One of the preeminent cardiovascular centers on the West Coast and two state-of-the-art catheterization labs;
• A radiology department with a larger opening MRI and the most advanced high-definition, low-dose radiation CT scanner in the Western U.S.;
• An Orthopedics Center of Excellence focusing primarily on adult reconstruction, such as hip, knee and shoulder replacement, spine surgery, and trauma that requires inpatient care; and
• A fully staffed Emergency Department that has been re-engineered to wrap life-saving diagnostic tools, labs, and clinical and imaging technology around it to provide quicker access and treatment for patients in the greatest need.

High-quality, patient-centered care and one of the finest nursing staffs in the country are hallmarks of the new hospital. Hoag is one of only 20 hospitals in California to earn the Magnet distinction for excellence in nursing and its nurse-to-patient ratio exceeds all state-mandated levels.

Green building and construction practices were integrated into every level of the hospital's design as part of Hoag's efforts to completely transform the existing facility.  Dozens of sustainable options were adopted, such as installing lighting designed to reduce energy usage and state-of-the-art sterilizers that will save up to a million gallons of water per year.

"To a certain extent, we've recycled the hospital. Instead of building a new facility, we've taken the existing building and transformed it into an incredible community asset," said Braithwaite.

The newly opened hospital is located at 16200 Sand Canyon Ave. in Irvine, Calif. For images, video and quotes, visit http://hoaghospital.presslift.com/hoagirvineopens.

About Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian

Hoag is a not-for-profit regional health care delivery network in Orange County, Calif., consisting of two acute-care hospitals, seven health centers and a network for more than 1,300 physicians, 5,000 employees and 2,000 volunteers. Hoag Hospital Newport Beach, which has served Orange County since 1952, and Hoag Hospital Irvine, which opened in 2010, are designated Magnet hospitals by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Hoag offers a comprehensive mix of health care services, including Centers of Excellence in cancer, heart and vascular, neurosciences, orthopedics and women's health. National Research Corporation has endorsed Hoag as Orange County's most preferred hospital for the past 14 consecutive years. And for an unprecedented 14 years, residents of Orange County have chosen Hoag as the county's best hospital in a local newspaper survey. Visit www.hoag.org.

SOURCE Hoag