Rush's community PR blitz

12/15/2011 3:20 PM

By AmySue Mertens
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Last weekend, Rush Medical Center opened its doors to the community and offered tours of the new tower. I signed up for the 9:40am tour with two friends. After police ID checks, we joined about 15 others in line, including one of the operating room designers and his family.

Tour stops included the OR, prep and recovery rooms; standard patient rooms; the entry pavilion and the emergency response unit. Rush is very proud of the new facility as evidenced by the many smiling staff members and willing volunteers who greeted us throughout the tour. A doctor explained the process of moving patients from prep through to recovery, and how the new facility will cut travel and wait times for patients, thereby cutting down on possible complications. A human resources staffer explained that the new facility was seeking LEED Gold certification for their environmentally-friendly design decisions, and would be one of the first medical centers (if not the first) to receive it.

A big public relations push came from an administrator who told us how our early input greatly impacted final design decisions like more sunlight in patient rooms. I don’t recall being asked about the design elements, though I imagine I would have said environmentally friendly design and sunlight would be nice. I do remember being asked to support the extension of the Near West TIF so that tens of millions of dollars could be used to build the facility--with emphasis put on plans for a state-of-the-art bio-hazard unit.

Unfortunately, it was the bio-hazard area that was brushed over without even a word while on our way from the emergency rooms to the waiting area and the receiving bay. The only sign of it was a muted video that played in the background while the emergency room doctor explained how ER patients would be transported from ambulances under heat lamps to make for a more comfortable commute. He also emphasized that in the case of an emergency, if we want to be brought to Rush it would be best to call the private ambulance company that was there giving tours of their transport unit.

I did ask about the bio-hazard area and was told it was back through a hallway we’d already passed. I guess I will have to trust that it is state-of-the-art and worth our TIF. But most importantly, although we Near West Siders should be pleased to be so close to it, let’s hope Chicago will never need it.


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