Saint Barnabas Medical Center unveils new addition

Livingston, New Jersey-based Saint Barnabas Medical Center, one of the flagship hospitals in the RWJBarnabas Health system, unveiled a new, five-story, 241,000-square-foot addition this week. The construction was backed by a $25 million donation by Leon and Troy Cooperman, and the addition will bear their name: the Cooperman Family Pavilion.

With its tall glass entrance, the pavilion will become the new point of entry for patients and visitors to the medical center. It will encompass 114 new private rooms; an expansive 56-bassinet Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which is five times the size of the previous NICU; many of the outpatient diagnostic services, including non-invasive cardiology, cardiopulmonary and neurodiagnostics lab, endoscopy lab and pre-admission testing; a central registration area; and a same-day surgery suite lounge. A new, three-story parking garage also has been built to accommodate more than 400 vehicles.

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In flushing out the addition, the design team worked with the project architects, under the direction of Francis Cauffman, and researched industry best practices in building a healthier hospital with a primary focus on family-centered care and a healing environment. Patients, family members, community members, physicians and staff all provided their suggestions and input in designing the expansion with amenities and elements that would lower the risk of falls, decrease noise, increase natural lighting, increase access to patients and provide a welcoming environment.

Design details include curb-free showers to prevent falls, acoustical materials to lessen noise and hybrid operating suites that allow surgeons to transfer easily from minimally invasive to open procedures.

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The plan for the NICU was influenced by the Patient Advisory Council, which brings together former patients' families for their perspective on how to provide better care and services to families in the NICU. Based on that, the NICU will have a series of single rooms in a pod design that allows families to bond with their baby within a few steps of nearby medical staff. There also will be two new family rooms that offer parents the opportunity to sleep over and care for their baby within the hospital environment prior to their discharge.

"We understood the value of speaking with our patients and families about what they wanted and needed in a hospital environment," said Stephen Zieniewicz, president and CEO of Saint Barnabas Medical Center, in a statement. "The project has truly been collaborative and I firmly believe we have the right amenities, structures and state-of-the-art technologies to provide the ultimate in patient care for our communities for the future."

Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com