Healthy kids
That's why we have built a new home for Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel.
Hey wait, didn't you already have a children's hospital?
Yes, Randall Children's Hospital at Legacy Emanuel sees about 100,000 kids a year. It's a great hospital, but we simply needed more room.
Why didn't you just expand?
We didn't have anywhere else to go. Plus, today's medical technology has outgrown the old building. While the doctors and nurses provide great care, our old building was built in the 1970s. We needed a new space to give the kids the level of care they deserve.
How big is it?
Our new building is four times the size of our old hospital, nine stories in all.
So what's this hospital like?
It's a beauty. Everything is set up to make the care better for children and their families — large, private rooms with large windows and views, plus family lounges, playrooms, a classroom and even a theater. It's flooded with natural light and features a terrace garden, which promotes healing.
When did it open?
February 2012
Read more about our new home for Randall Children's Hospital
Good Health
We have taken a complete approach to the issue of preventable medical mistakes. The result: We have had fewer deaths and infections in our hospitals.
What's the issue?
Many hospitals don't like to admit it, but preventable medical errors in hospitals are a significant cause of death in the U.S.
You tried to get rid of mistakes?
To err is human. What we did was to try to eliminate “preventable harm” and “needless death.” Focusing on practices that are proven to reduce patient deaths and infections during hospital stays.
What did you do?
We decided to say, “Let's talk about it. Let's face it. And let's fix it.” We made a plan across our six hospitals to involve everyone in following best practices. We announced specific goals, we followed lists of proven safety measures and we had teams of caregivers, instead of one doctor, check patients each day.
What happened?
The bottom line is that we prevented an estimated 300 deaths and 950 infections, saving some $20 million in three years from the costs of treating health care-associated infections.
What does that mean?
In the words of The Oregonian, which ran a front-page article and then an editorial about our success, “… that translates to Grandma coming home, Dad getting back to work faster, Mom having a less complicated childbirth … .” Well said.
Quality
Read more about our commitment to quality and patient safety.
Great ideas
We're changing the way we deliver medicine.
Does that mean more equipment and more tests?
We certainly have some amazing medical technology. However, we've made great strides in other ways, too.
Such as?
One way we are changing the way medicine is delivered is called the “health home” or “medical home.”
What is a health home?
The essence of the health home idea is that we have a primary care doctor leading a team of people who look after all aspects of your health. All our primary care clinics are moving in that direction.
How is that different?
For one thing, instead of focusing on treating you when you're sick, we are helping you maintain your health.
What about changes in electronic communication?
In fact, one of the biggest things we have done is install across our system an “electronic health record.” Epic places all health records into a highly sophisticated computer system.
How does that help?
It means doctors and nurses have instant access to your medical records when they need it. It means your medications are recorded electronically, which helps catch mistakes in drug interactions. It means better communication among the doctors, nurses and others taking care of you. Better communication and better coordination lead to better care.
Read more about Legacy's Medical Homes.