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U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin Visits Tower

January 18, 2012 by Rush University Medical Center

U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois visited Rush University Medical Center on Thursday, Jan. 12th to view the Tower. He toured Rush’s new, state-of-the-art hospital with chief executive officer Dr. Larry J. Goodman, chairman of the board of trustees Richard M. Jaffe and chairman of emergency medicine Dr. Dino Rumoro.

Durbin’s visit and tour included the intensive-care unit on the 11th floor of the 14-floor hospital building, but he was particularly excited to see the new emergency department. Steadfast support from Durbin over the past decade has been instrumental in funding programmatic, and training and equipment initiatives for the Robert R. McCormick Foundation Center for Advanced Emergency Response. The new center, the first of its kind, brings an unprecedented level of preparedness to Chicago in the event of a bioterrorist attack, a deadly pandemic or an industrial accident sending hazardous materials seeping into the streets.

In addition, Durbin’s support helped advance the development of the emergency center’s GUARDIAN project, an artificial intelligence system developed by Rumoro and Rush to identify the presence of infectious diseases that may spread statewide.

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Thoughts From First Surgery at Rush’s New Hospital

January 10, 2012 by Rush University Medical Center

The ORs in Rush's new hospital building contain advanced communication features such as video conferencing.

Ear, nose and throat surgeon Dr. Guy Petruzzelli spent more time than he’s accustomed to in the operating room Monday morning during one of the first surgeries at the Tower, Rush University Medical Center’s new hospital. Not only didn’t he mind the extra time spent in the room, he considers it a giant step forward in patient care.

In one of the approximately 60 operations in the brand-new operating rooms at the Tower that day, Petruzzelli used a robotic procedure to remove a small tumor from the back of a patient’s throat. This requires specimen analysis by a pathologist, and prior to the move to the new hospital, Petruzzelli would have needed to leave the operating room (OR) to consult with the pathology department about the results.

But due to new technology available to him and the other surgeons at Rush at the new hospital building, his meetings with pathologists now happen through video communication after the specimen sample is sent to the pathology department in a pneumatic tube, a network of tubes that can propel special canisters with, for example, pathology specimens from surgery, to different locations at the Medical Center. Thanks to the video screens in the OR, Petruzzelli is able to see exactly what the pathologist is seeing under a microscope in real time, and can discuss the results “face to face.” That saves precious time, improves communication, and it’s just one of the features of the Tower that had Petruzzelli so excited following his procedure.

“It’s very important for surgeons, especially cancer surgeons, to communicate with the pathologists,” Petruzzelli said. “We can have a conversation with the pathologists about what they’re seeing at that moment and have them describe that to us without leaving the operating room. That is really incredible.” Continue Reading »

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Welcome to the New Rush Hospital

January 9, 2012 by Rush University Medical Center

It was still quiet early this morning, as it has been for the last few months, in the new Edward A. Brennan Entry Pavilion at Rush University Medical Center.

But for the first time, sliding glass doors parted on cue as patients began filing through the main entrance to Rush’s new hospital, which officially opened today. And for the first time, a guest relations associate — Kasey Bates — was on duty behind the information desk, greeting patients and helping them find their way.

“Hello, how can I help you?” she asked as one man approached, before directing him to an elevator that would take him to the third floor.

Moments later, a woman, holding her arm, approached with a companion, who asked where the emergency department is. Bates heped the injured woman into a wheelchair, then guided her toward the adjacent ED.

Bates said she and other guest relations staff underwent extensive training, studying exactly where everything is located in the new hospital, even running through test scenarios to prepare them for all possibilities.

She feels ready, and quickly offered up an example: “I can tell you 3 Kellogg is now 12 West, where the ICUs are now.”

“It’s just cool being part of Rush right now,” she said. “It’s an exciting time to be at the Medical Center.”

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Moving Into Rush History

January 8, 2012 by Rush University Medical Center

Keishia Yates (left) and team reviewing the schedule

As early as 5:15 a.m. Sunday, employees began to trickle into Transport Services to begin the day they had been training for over the past several months. By 5:30 a.m., they had all arrived. Some were reviewing the move schedule, while others were quietly talking in groups.

Keishia Yates, the director of Transport Services, called for attention to share some final thoughts with her team. She explained that they play an important role in Rush history as they move patients from the Atrium and Kellogg buildings to the Tower.

Keishia then reminded them that they are ambassadors of the hospital. She talked about confidence and how our patients and visitors will look to them for assurance.  After that, they headed up to the units to begin the transfer of patients, beginning at 6 a.m.

By 9:20 a.m. they had moved 119 acute care patients and were preparing to start the move of the critical care patients. While they all appreciated the significance of their efforts on this historic day, they also recognize that this is what they do every day.

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First Patients Move Into New Rush Hospital

January 8, 2012 by Rush University Medical Center

Rodina White and Frank Harris are the first patients transferred into the Tower, Rush's new hospital.

Approximately 200 patients are being transferred today into the Tower, Rush University Medical Center’s new, 14-story, state-of-the-art hospital building, located at Ashland Avenue and the Eisenhower Expressway.

It’s the next phase in a weekend-long move into the Tower, which follows more than seven years of planning and four years of construction. This morning, Rush nursing and physican leadership and support staff welcomed the first patients into the Tower. Patients are being moved by transport staff and some are escorted by teams that include doctors and nurses as patient conditions require.

“It’s exhilarating,” said Kydie Grosshuesch, RN, who helped receive the first patients as the assistant unit director on the Tower’s 13th floor. “It’s nice to have everything run smoothly and to get things going. It’s exciting to start a new chapter in Rush’s history.”

Rodina White, who had a total knee replacement surgery the previous morning, was the first patient to cross the threshold into the Tower.

“The hospital is simply gorgeous. I mean, I have a lake view. I can see the Chicago skyline. What a great way to have to go through recovery,” White said. “I don’t feel like I’m closed in at all; I feel like I’m at home.”

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