In 2014, an underutilized retail establishment, Richland Mall, became the new home of Avita Health System Ontario Hospital. The renovation of a mercantile establishment to a critical care I-2 building is no easy task. Initially, the hospital provided critical care to the underserved community and has grown into a thriving community hospital through several expansions. The last phase of work within the 185,000 sf former Lazarus building expands the services to include an additional 23- beds, a three-room OR suite with supporting pre and post-op recovery beds, a LDRP (labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum room) unit, a Critical Care Unit, a Medical Surgery Unit, Facility Operations and expands the Central Plant. The design and delivery of the 2nd-floor infill were provided by the design-build team of Adena Corporation, a partner of Wellogy. Evolving the Conceptual Plan for the floor, the Adena/ Wellogy team delivered a progressive birthing center elevating the birthing process from a strictly clinical experience to one that is more reminiscent in its look and feel of a day at the spa.
In the post-COVID era, and with the continued threat of contagious disease, the Wellogy team delivers negative-pressure operating rooms to enable procedural care for highly infectious patients. There are several beds on the floor, one or two per unit, and dedicated Isolation Rooms. The remaining beds can convert to isolation rooms with the necessary negative air with minimal building control adjustments. The strategy empowers Avita to manage community health crises when necessary and minimize capital expenditures when not needed. The program is delivered in an eye-popping nine-month schedule while maintaining the needs of the operating hospital.
