Mission Hospital reveals long-term plan

Six performance standards related to the three pillars include patient experience, which falls under sacred encounters; stewardship, which keeps operations consistent with resources; growth through clinical program leadership, providing needed services; wellness and health improvement, generally programs outside the hospital walls; physician engagement, relationships with hospital; and quality — hard to define, but if you see it you know it, Beck said.

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Where the money will go

Once it was decided how best to use the Laguna Beach campus, the big question was how to spend the money.

"When we first moved here, retrofitting was estimated to cost $80 million," Beck said.

After a lot of study by Mission of what is actually needed, conducted under the leadership of Lisa Weaver, vice president of development, the price has declined to about $17 or $18 million for retrofitting, Beck said. The lower costs were attributed to changes in technology, the state's extension of the deadline to retrofit and acceptance of alternative processes to meet the standards.

Renovations will run about another $13 million and some are underway.

The only contracted services at this time are cleaners and the Chemical Dependency unit on the fourth floor.

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Renovations

The exterior has been painted and landscaping is progress. The MRI has been relocated, a major issue because it had never been legal in its previous location, which obscured the entry to the emergency unit.

Estimated costs of $11 million will be spent to upgrade the central plant, which manages utilities, water and air conditioning. The project has begun and could continue through 2013.

The chillers, which help regulate building temperatures, will be needed again this summer, but they have been moved to where the MRI is located, away from the area that distressed neighbors due to the noise.

"We have noise abatement walls in place," Beck said.

Renovations to the in-patient behavioral unit at a cost of $300,000 should be finished this month. Experts were consulted on making the unit safer and more pleasing for patients.

"It took about 12 months to get it through the state and these were pretty simple changes," Beck said.

Four to six rooms were renovated at a time.

"There will be more work done during retrofitting." Beck said.

The renovation of the main lobby and corridors is scheduled to begin at the end of this year.

A portion of the projects will be funded from hospital operations, the rest from loans and fundraising.

Tuesday's presentation included an animated film of what the hospital could look like after renovations are completed and exhibits of color schemes and materials.

Asked about the colors, described as rather Italianate earthy tones, Beck said he was the wrong person to respond.

Arts Commission Pat Kollenda suggested that beachy colors, blue in particular, would be more suitable, as well as relaxing and calming.

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Completion of Goals

"Our goal is to create a place where mind, body and spirit can be healed," Beck said.

"The key to our success is approvals by the state and the city. "We are blessed with a good working relationship with the City Council.

"And we must continue to be good stewards of the hospital's [financial] resources."

Resident Picheny urged the hospital to add "community and neighbor support" to the list.