-Modern Healthcare ranks new patient tower among top hospitals nationwide for design and guest amenities-

Sept. 24, 2007 - Southwest Washington Medical Center is proud to be among the top winners of Modern Healthcare magazine's 22nd annual Design Awards. Southwest received the Award of Excellence in recognition of the Firstenburg Tower expansion project.

Southwest was one of four Award of Excellence winners chosen by Modern Healthcare out of 181 entries. The winners are profiled in the magazine's Sept. 24 issue. Entries were evaluated on design excellence, functional utility, flexibility of design, and response to families and patients. Healthcare and design architects, as well as healthcare executives served as judges.

 'Our primary goal in building the Firstenburg Tower was to provide space and technology for our state-of-the-art Centers of Excellence, particularly the Heart & Vascular Center, the Brain & Spine Center, and general surgery. In addition, we wanted to create a more comfortable experience for patients and guests in this state-of-the-art facility,' says Rainy Atkins, Southwest Chief Operating Officer. 'It is very gratifying to be recognized by our health care peers for our success in creating an ideal environment for everyone who works and receives care here.'

The Firstenburg Tower is a showcase facility for healthcare design featuring:

• A consolidated Heart & Vascular Center on the first floor with five catheterization labs, including two with 3D imaging capability and two dedicated open heart surgery suites;
• 13 state-of-the-art operating rooms, which are twice the size of the existing surgery rooms, and underground valet parking for patients with direct elevator access to the surgery units;
• Space for up to 154 private patient rooms with overnight accommodations for guests, views of Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, and the Portland skyline, as well as bedside entertainment and information screens that allow patients and guests to watch movies, play games, and access the internet or essential health records;
• A user-friendly lobby featuring pre-operative and laboratory services, outpatient pharmacy, Fireside Café, medical resource center, and wi-fi access.

According to Modern Healthcare, judges said the winners showed a consistency of quality 'from the parking lot entrance to the individual rooms,' as well as capitalized on uses of natural light and invested resources in vegetation and landscaping. 

With an understanding of the healing power of light, Southwest designed the lobby of the Firstenburg Tower with floor to ceiling windows. Tower corridors end with picturesque views for patients and staff to enjoy, and every patient room has expansive windows to let in more natural light.

The campus is an environment that reflects the wonders of the Pacific Northwest with a serene creek and waterfall, walking paths through an open and inviting landscape design, and the addition of 267 new trees and more than 3,000 new shrubs and plants.

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