February, 2009
The Concordian • www.myconcordian.com
Page 3
‘Topping out’ celebratesJohn MuirConcordCampus’ambitiousexpansion
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he painted white girder, the lastin the initial construction phaseof the John Muir HealthMedical Center’s Concord campusexpansion, became the focal point inthe construction’s “Topping Out” cere-mony Jan. 9.From about 700 A.D., with originsin Scandinavia, it became customary to top out new construction withsheaths of grain for good luck. The Vikings spread this custom to Europe, with the Britons and Germans substi-tuting small trees. Americans added aflag to complete the custom.The estimated $179 million for thispart of the project has received muchphilanthropic attention, including anambitious fund-raising project spear-headed by campaign chair Michael L.Levine, an oncologist with heavy tiesto the John Muir Health Foundation.The goal of $56 million in fund-raisingis well underway, currently at $28.6million, through a variety of namingopportunities.
A rich history
Levine joined the Concord medicalstaff in 1978 and was on the Mt.Diablo Hospital Board prior to its uni-fication with the Walnut Creek campusunder the John Muir Health banner.He has played a prominent role in thedevelopment of the RadiationOncology Department for Concord.“I’ve been here for 30 years,” Levinesaid. “I’ve seen lots of wonderfulgrowth over time as this region hasgrown. It was just a small house whenit started in 1930.”It was, in fact, a wood-frame house which was turned into a five-bed facili-ty by nurse Edna Gallagher Haywood.Thirty years later, with a four-story addition, it became Concord’s tallest building. In 1973, it had the first eleva-tor in the county installed and thecounty’s first cardiac catheterization was performed onsite.The hospital continued over the years to accumulate awards for servic-es rendered to the community in areassuch as being a stroke center, cancerinstitute and robotic surgical center.“When I came here, it was a sleepy area with a large horse population,”Levine recalled of his arrival fromIllinois. “Like many others, I trained atnearby UC San Francisco, getting ataste of the Bay Area. I was anxious tostay.”
A stronger community
Levine explained his pride in thefoundation, which in his view exempli-fies a solid investment in the commu-nity. “This is the largest project of itskind,” he said of the Concord projectand a similar one in the works at the Walnut Creek campus. “When youmake this $800 million (combined)commitment to the community, evenin these challenging economic times, itmakes a strong statement. We’ve hadquite a legacy. That is so inspiring tome.”The new structure, a patient caretower and the John MuirCardiovascular Institute, will have 12private cardiovascular ICU beds, 49private remotely monitored beds, fourcardiac catheterization labs and 12 pre-operative/recovery beds.Included in the work is an expan-sion of the Emergency Department with 32 private treatment stations, asatellite imaging center as well as adedicated chest pain/observation unit,remodeled critical care and nursingunits and 61 new private family-cen-tered rooms with outdoor views.The John Muir Medical CenterConcord Campus has been recognizedas a preeminent center for oncology and cardiovascular services, includingopen-heart surgery. In 2008HealthGrades, an independent healthcare quality company ranked theConcord campus among the top fivepercent of hospitals nationally. The Walnut Creek Campus was ranked oneof “America’s Best Hospitals 2008” by U.S. News & World Report.
Grassroots effort
At the topping out ceremony, bene-factors, local dignitaries and communi-ty leaders joined the physicians, nurs-es, construction workers and visitors, writing messages on the white steel beam before it was hoisted into place by a large crane.Ken Meehan, executive vice presi-dent of operations for John MuirHealth, addressed the crowd – describ-ing how a collective vision broughtthem to this point. “It’s been 11 monthssince we broke ground,” he noted.Michael Monaldo, vice president of facilities development at John MuirHealth, thanked the city of Concord.“They helped make it better,” he said,discussing the more than 2,000 sheetsof drawings that went into the project.He also thanked the neighbors for theirpatience during the work.“This is a grassroots campaign,”Levine said before the ceremony. “Itreaches everyone in the community and we hope to see a wider participa-tion as we continue.”Concerned about the economy andfunding cuts from various sources,Levine stressed the importance of hav-ing the backing of the community. “Thepeople in this region have been very supportive. I am very impressed and very excited.”The John Muir Health Foundation isa 501©(3) nonprofit organizationestablished in 1979 to support the non-profit John Muir Health organization which serves communities in ContraCosta and parts of Solano and Marincounties.“Both hospitals need to expand toaddress current capacity pressures andaccommodate emerging medical tech-nologies,” Levine said.
For more information, visit www.johnmuirhealthfoundation.orgor call 947-4459.
Mayor Laura Hoffmeister looks for an emptyspot to add her signature to the top beamC
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