Changing Rush, Advancing Medicine

The Rush Transformation

In 2004, Rush University Medical Center in Chicago revealed its plan for the most comprehensive construction and facilities renovation program in its history. The “Rush Transformation” refers to Rush’s plans to invest in new technology and build new facilities. This nine-year project will thoroughly redefine our buildings and technology, as well as many of the processes we use to deliver patient care safely and efficiently. Rush is using this opportunity to completely redesign all patient care processes to put the patient and family at the center of everything we do.

Construction is under way on our orthopedic ambulatory building and parking garage/central power plant. Click here to watch the work in progress. Construction on the East Tower begins in spring 2008.

Transforming the Landscape of Medicine

Rather than spending the tens of millions of dollars required to renovate buildings that will not measure up to the adaptability and longevity of modern facilities, Rush decided to invest in new facilities, including a new hospital and orthopedic ambulatory care building, along with a new a parking structure and centralized power plant.

The new hospital will offer patient rooms and public spaces that are flooded with natural light and offer expansive views of the Chicago skyline, with plant life enlivening waiting rooms and rooftops. Patient rooms and treatment areas will maximize patient safety, accommodate the latest in medical technology and improve treatment outcomes.

Beyond the buildings, the transformation plans involve redesigning the patient care process by thoughtfully placing key services close to one another on a single, accessible level. This will minimize the need for patients and families to travel to multiple locations within the new hospital, making patients’ visits more convenient than ever before.

Technology to Shape the Patient Experience

At the same time as we are transforming our physical environment, we are also introducing state-of-the-art technology that will create an electronic medical record. The implementation of Epic, a comprehensive health records documentation software application, will enhance every aspect of the patient experience, from admissions to discharge. It will provide:

• A simplified, campus-wide registration system, enabling patients to register only once per visit, even if they are seeing multiple physicians.
• Real-time information that enables caregivers to identify patient concerns even more promptly and immediately receive alerts for medication interactions or duplicate orders.
• Point-of-care documentation that gives caregivers the ability to immediately put information into a patient’s record right at the bedside.
• The opportunity to improve patient safety by having an electronic wristband on every patient.
• Enhanced communication between clinicians, enabling caregivers to collaborate more efficiently on patient cases.
• Convenient interactions between patients and clinicians via the Internet, such as scheduling appointments and requesting refills.

Implementing major new technology simultaneously with the facilities provides unparallel opportunities to improve the patient experience, quality of care and staffing productivity.