Johns Hopkins Unveils New Hospital

Jan. 26--Johns Hopkins plans to give the first glimpse today of its new $1.1 billion hospital today when it takes the media on a tour of its 560 private rooms, 33 operating rooms, new adult and children's emergency rooms.

The 1.6 million-square-foot building is one of the largest hospital construction projects in the country and plans to offer state-of-the art imaging and surgical equipment and a "hotel like" atmosphere with gardens, artwork, sound-proofing, Internet and food options. Patients are scheduled to be moved to the new facilities at the tend of April.

Hopkins officials said the facility is needed to provide better patient care. The buildings it replaces on the East Baltimore campus were constructed in the 1930s and 1950s and can't efficiently accommodate equipment and services.

"The opening of our new patient care facilities will be a transformative milestone in the history of Johns Hopkins Medicine," said Dr. Edward D. Miller, dean and chief executive of Johns Hopkins Medicine, which includes the hospitals, medical school and affiliated hospitals and health care facilities.

"For more than a century, patients have come to Johns Hopkins from throughout Baltimore, the nation and the world for the best possible, evidence-based, patient-centered care. Our new facilities will enable us to provide that excellent care with greater comfort and private for our patients and their families in a state-of-the-art environment."

Hopkins joins other area hospitals in upgrading facilities including Mercy Medical Center, which recently opened its own new patient tower, and University of Maryland Medical Center, which plans to expand its Shock Trauma Center.

Officials inside and outside the hospitals say the upgrades are needed to lure patients, keep doctors and other personnel and maintain the business.

Hopkins made the decision to build new facilities for adults and children about 12 years ago. It used a mix of philanthropy, debt and cash to pay for the building.

The adult tower will be named for Sheikh Zayed, honoring the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who served as the first president of the United Arab Emirates, after a contribution from his son. The other tower, for the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, will be named for Charlotte R. Bloomberg, honoring the mother of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg who died last year.

Meredith.cohn@baltsun.com

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