New ER to ease overcrowding
By Michelle Knight knight@theacorn.com

VISUAL HEALING- Hospital officials from St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo enjoy the recently completed Tuscanythemed mural painted by local artist Steve Eberhardt. The painting is part of ongoing remodeling work at the Camarillo hospital. An expansion of the facility's emergency room is expected to be completed in June.

The drone of drills and the thud of hammers fill the air as construction work continues on the $16 million emergency department at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital.

Work began in November on the nearly 11,000squarefoot addition that will have larger waiting and emergency rooms, and include features the current department doesn't have, such as an isolation room for patients with contagious diseases, a decontamination shower for people exposed to biohazards and a secured examination room for suicidal patients.

The St. John's Healthcare Foundation raised $1.4 million for the remodeling project.

The last time the 33-year-old Camarillo hospital underwent a major remodel was in 1985. President Jerry Conway said with more people living in the area, a larger emergency department is needed.

"Catholic Healthcare West is investing a lot in Camarillo and the community, there's no doubt about it," Conway said.

The current emergency room, with only eight beds, is overcrowded, Conway said. The new emergency room will have 14 beds.

With more space for medical equipment, Pleasant Valley can offer more emergency services. For example, medical staff will have the use of state-of-the-art equipment to stabilize trauma patients before they're transferred to a designated trauma unit at a Santa Barbara or Northridge hospital.

"It will be the most modern ER in the county," said hospital Director Robert Hacker.

Debbie Bumblis, emergency room nursing director, said they expect to need more nursing staff when the building is completed, and will probably add a 12-hour shift from 3 p.m. to 3 a.m.- the hospital's busiest time.

Hospital officials anticipate opening the emergency department on June 25. A date for the grand opening ceremony has not yet been scheduled.

In addition, the rest of the hospital's first floor is undergoing a facelift, which includes the recent unveiling of a healing garden, wall murals, new carpeting and wood flooring.

The hospital's garden has waterfalls and ponds, a foot bridge, wrought iron benches and flowers in bloom. Conway said studies show that pleasant, peaceful outdoor spaces away from a sterile hospital setting helps patient recuperate. The healing garden is a popular spot not just with patients, but their families and hospital staff, he said.

A $350,000 donation made the healing garden possible.

Like many other California hospitals, Pleasant Valley faces the challenge of building a new inpatient wing within the next few years to comply with state earthquake safety standards. Conway said they plan to build a $79 million two-story 80-bed facility by 2013.

"It's a very exciting time for the hospital. The staff and physicians are excited about the growth we're experiencing, ultimately to serve the needs of the community," Conway said.

A palliative care unit is under construction for patients needing endoflife care. The area will include a kitchenette and sleeping quarters for patients' families so they can be close by.

"It's a really caring, loving, dignified way of dying instead of sitting in a hospital bed and passing away," Conway said.