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Ratcliff Completes Relocation and Expansion of John Muir Facility

Issue: January 2010

Ratcliff, an architecture, interiors and planning firm, announced the recent completion of the 24,000-square-foot first phase of the Emergency Department relocation and expansion for John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek Campus. The hospital is designated as the trauma center for Contra Costa County and part of Solano County. Designed to accommodate 65,000 patient visits per year, the new Emergency Department doubles, and will ultimately triple, the number of treatment stations. The newly renovated facility will increase waiting area spaces with a main lobby and three satellite waiting rooms to accommodate patients’ family and loved ones.

The Emergency Department spaces are arranged in several treatment zones with separate clinician stations to improve organizational clarity and streamline the delivery of healthcare services. These treatment zones include a fast-track unit, an observation unit, two acute care units, and a critical care area for cardiac resuscitation and trauma. Together, the first phase comprises:

·        31 universal treatment rooms
·        Four major trauma rooms
·        Dedicated CT scanner and two radiology rooms
·        Quiet treatment areas
·        A negative pressure area used for suspected infectious diseases
·        Two full isolation treatment rooms complete with anterooms and toilets
·        Security at walk-in and ambulance entries
·        A dedicated work area for paramedics and emergency workers

A nature-based palette, natural light from skylights and windows, and adjustable light levels throughout serve to mitigate patient anxiety. Family waiting areas and staff lounges are enhanced with colorful interior finishes composed of high-performance/low-VOC materials.

The expansion and remodel was completed in three phases to accommodate the construction of the Thomas J. and Muriel T. Long Patient Care Tower, a new five-story, 400,000-square-foot expansion of the hospital. The hospital expansion project will add 12 more Emergency Department treatment/observation rooms and relocate the helipad to the tower rooftop, where high-speed elevators will transport patients from the roof to the Emergency Department.

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