GW OPENS NEW $96 MILLION HOSPITAL
400,000 Square Foot Facility Is One Of The Most Technologically Advanced In The Nation

WASHINGTON —The George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., the hospital of choice for our country's leaders and foreign dignitaries, is building a brand new and completely modern 371 bed hospital with a price tag of $96 million. The grand opening is scheduled for August 14th and the new facility will then open to patients on August 24th. The NEW George Washington University Hospital will be one of the most technologically advanced medical facilities in the nation.

Inside the walls of this 400,000 square foot facility exist hundreds of miles of wires that enable the facility to operate via a wireless radio-frequency network. This high tech system provides for faster imaging, near paperless record keeping and easy access by clinicians to patient data. Patient care will improve when physicians can connect to the wireless information network via their palm pilot, providing them with the ability to retrieve or supply up to the minute information on all of their patients anywhere in the hospital. In the not-so-distant future, physicians will have the ability to order tests or x-rays, and even request patient medicines right at the bedside.

The wireless network also allows caregivers to wheel a mobile laptop computer into a patient's room and record histories right at the bedside - a huge timesaver and more reliable method of record keeping. The information available through the wireless network is encrypted to ensure patient confidentiality. A patient's privacy is protected because the devices cannot be used outside the radio frequency network.

The network also works in conjunction with a new telemetry system that allows wireless monitoring of cardiac patients. The system allows caregivers to record patient vital signs throughout the hospital, even in areas such as elevators, via a lightweight and compact patient-worn monitoring device.

The $96 million dollar facility will also house over $45 million in high tech equipment. Diagnostic capabilities have been drastically improved with the addition of state-of-the-art technology for cardiac catheterization, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography (CT), and nuclear medicine. A fully integrated picture archiving communication system (PACS) enables all radiology scans to be stored digitally for easy retrieval anywhere, anytime.

In addition to wireless capabilities, GW Hospital is one of the first facilities in the country to integrate virtual reality, computer-controlled mannequins, and other interactive teaching tools into a hospital setting. This technology benefits the patient, for it mimics real life surgical situations and provides hands on, yet risk free tools for training future healthcare providers.

Architects of the facility have incorporated these technological advancements into a hospital setting designed to deliver exceptional patient care. Patient rooms are primarily private and have been grouped in fours around a nursing station, creating a "pod" that allows nurses to more efficiently care for their patients.

Elevators are strategically located to form a front and rear stage. Patients use the public elevators in the front of the building, while supplies and materials are transported using rear elevators, providing direct and efficient movement of lifesaving materials. Pneumatic tubes, like those seen at bank drive through windows, allow for the quick transfer of medication and blood between departments.

The hospital will also offer expanded amenities, including the option to upgrade to a Colonial Suite for a fee. The Suites are private rooms offering upscale furniture, gourmet meals, plush linens and a number of hospitality services.

To learn more about The George Washington University Hospital or to arrange a tour, contact Marti Harris at 202-715-4447 or mharris@gwu-hospital.com.