November 2008 - THE SENTINEL
By Staff Writer Throughout 18 years of community service, San Ramon Regional Medical Center continues to excel in quality care, to introduce new technologies, and to develop its services and facilities. The 123-bed, acute-care hospital, opened in 1990, receives numerous awards and recognitions for its quality care and service excellence.
Most recently, San Ramon Regional received four CIGNA quality designations in caesarean section, colon surgery, adult pneumonia, and vaginal delivery. These designations measure the hospital’s complications, mortality and Leapfrog Patient Safety Index scores. The CIGNA designation is an indication of our hospital’s effectiveness in treating and performing these procedures.
Other awards the hospital received in 2008 include:
• Gold Awards from the American Heart Association’s Get with the Guidelines Achievement for coronary artery disease and heart failure
• UnitedHealth Premium® designated our hospital Specialty Centers for Surgical Spine and Cardiac Surgery
• Best Nursing Team finalist from Advance for Nurses magazine
“We are proud of these accomplishments, and appreciate our outstanding employees and physicians who are dedicated to quality patient care,” said Medical Center CEO Gary Sloan.
STEMI Center San Ramon Regional has been designated as one of five STEMI Receiving Centers for Contra Costa County. Since September 8, 2008, patients transported via the 911 system with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are sent to one of the five hospital emergency departments for rapid assessment, cardiac catheterization and an angioplasty or PCI.
STEMI heart attacks can be reversed by specialized cardiac procedures that are best given within 90 to 120 minutes of the first sign of chest pain. Paramedics are trained to recognize STEMI heart attacks with a 12-lead EKG and to notify STEMI Receiving Centers quickly to activate its cardiac team and provide specialized treatment. The County is educating the community about calling 911 if they experience cardiac symptoms.
Digital Mammography Units Two new state-of-the-art HOLOGIC digital mammography units with enhanced accuracy are now in service in the hospital’s South Building. The machines feature MammoPad, a BioLucent foam pad which may increase comfort for some patients. With this new mammography equipment, all equipment in the Imaging department is digital and centralized.
San Ramon Regional is creating a comprehensive Breast Center in the same location with a dedicated mammography radiologist. The Center will include ultrasound and biopsy rooms. All breast exams will be performed in the Breast Center to provide fast and convenient service for patients.
Emergency and Laboratory Expansion
San Ramon Regional Medical Center expects to break ground for the Emergency (ED) and Laboratory (Lab) expansion in 2009. The City of San Ramon approved the project earlier this year, and the State of California has been reviewing the building plans. The construction project will begin immediately after state approval, and proceed to completion over an 18-month period.
The expansion will double the size of both the ED and Lab. The ED will become 8,900 square feet, and the patient capacity will increase from nine beds to 17 beds. It will include isolation rooms for contaminated and contagious patients, and a pediatric area in the enlarged waiting room.
“The expanded ED and Lab will accommodate the care of the growing population in the area, and will help to ensure space to respond adequately in a major regional disaster,” Sloan explained.
Within a few years, the hospital will open a second inpatient and surgical area in the South Building. Plans are to build three to four operating suites, and convert some rooms for inpatients. Upon completion, the current plan is to move orthopedic cases to this expanded facility.
For a physician referral or for more information about San Ramon Regional Medical Center, call 800. 284.2878 or visit
www.sanramonmedctr.com.