Congresswoman Anna Eshoo visits Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford

California 18th District Congresswoman Anna Eshoo got a peek inside the new Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital expansion during a visit to the Palo Alto campus last week.

The hospital is in the process of building America’s most technologically advanced family-friendly and environmentally sustainable hospital for babies, children and expectant mothers. In touring the construction site, Congresswoman Eshoo gained perspective of how each of these components will come to life when the expansion opens in the fall of 2017.

While visiting the Treatment Center area, which will become six new surgical suites, a nuclear medicine department, three new imaging units, and four diagnostic units, including a neuro-hybrid surgery suite — the only one of its kind in a California children’s hospital — the efficiencies that this upgraded technology will afford doctors becomes clear. With a state-of-the-art diagnostic MRI in the neuro-hybrid surgery suite, surgeons will have access to angiography imaging equipment and a full operating room, enabling them to view updated images during surgery and reimage patients before closure of the surgical incision.

The hospital’s Elizabeth Dunlevie Garden will feature engaging sculptures for patients and other young visitors to explore.

Beyond gaining an understanding of the technological advancements that will be present in the new hospital, Congresswoman Eshoo spent time exploring the 3.5 acres of healing gardens and green space that will be part of the expanded campus. Packard Children’s believes that a holistic approach to care leads to better health outcomes, and incorporating nature into the hospital is vital component of that.

“To walk through the emerging new hospital was an extraordinary experience,” Congresswoman Eshoo said. “State-of-the-art technologies and sunlit gathering spaces for families and staff all point to what will be one of the finest children’s hospital in our nation. Lucile Packard’s dreams live on!”

Beyond the gardens, Packard Children’s family-centered care approach is reflected throughout the hospital. Patient families and members of the hospital’s Family Advisory Council provided input on their needs during long hospital stays to inform the design of 149 additional patient rooms, which will be more spacious, with sleeping accommodations for two family members, and amenities like laundry facilities and family kitchens on every floor.

“Our community of patient families is at the core of everything we do,” Sherri Sager, chief government and community relations officer at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford discussed with Congresswoman Eshoo. “The ability to incorporate their recommendations into the design of the new hospital honors the vision of our founder, Lucile Packard, whose dream was for kids to be treated like kids – not just patients – and to involve the whole family in a child’s care.”

“Lucile’s finger prints are all over the new expansion,” Eshoo remarked. “It’s wonderful.”