Bringing Innovation to Your Backyard

The weather surprised us with a winter-like chill during the weekend earlier this month when we hosted the ribbon-cutting events for Inspira Medical Center Mullica Hill. While it was definitely unseasonably cold outside, it was a heartwarming experience to share our excitement of this new hospital which opens for patients on December 8.

Contributing to the celebratory mood were the hundreds of people who walked through our new front door to tour the medical center. A local Marine Corps color guard, bands from both Clearview and Kingsway regional high schools, the Quaker City Mummers, and even fireworks added to the festivities. But the real star of the show was our shiny new 210-bed, 465,000 square foot hospital.

We’ve always been on the forefront of seeking technology that can enhance our patient care. In the planning and design our new hospital in Mullica Hill, we’ve sought out the newest technology for a variety of therapeutic and diagnostic needs.

Such as our smart room technology in every patient room. It does everything from identifying every staff member when they enter a patient room to automatically recording a patient’s vital signs directly into their electronic medical record. In-room TVs display the name and title of the clinical staff as they enter the room, along with access to the internet and TV. The smart room technology can even set up virtual bed rails and alert notices for patients identified at risk for falling.

Also, in every patient room is a private bathroom and ample space for the patient’s family and friends. Every room has a couch that can convert to a bed so a loved one can rest or spend the night.

Like Inspira Medical Center Vineland, this hospital’s 62-bed Emergency Department features dedicated units for both children and seniors. As any parent knows, when your child isn’t feeling well, the last thing you want to expose them to are situations that might make them more anxious. At Mullica Hill, they will be cared for in a secure, child-friendly environment.

We gave the same special attention to our senior ER. It has special lighting and flooring, handrails, and private bathrooms in most of the rooms. And, most important, the staff have received special training in the care of our senior patients’ unique needs and preferences.

Our new interventional unit includes all-new facilities for surgery, cardiac catheterization, radiology procedures, and our GI lab. One of our catheterization labs features the latest bi-plane technology which takes pictures from two different angles so our interventional cardiologists get an almost 3D image to more quickly identify the blood flow problem area that needs attention.

It’s no secret that I love to talk about innovation and technology. It’s new, it’s exciting and it allows us to help even more people. Yet, technology is only a tool. It’s our outstanding doctors, nurses and the entire care team that heal, counsel and comfort. The technology will always be important but it’s the Inspira team who will make this new hospital something special. A place where patients and their loved ones will feel welcome, cared about and confident they are in good hands.

I’m so grateful to our Board of Trustees who remain steadfast in their charge to ensure that our communities have access to state-of-the art facilities and skilled clinicians at all of our 150+ access points. To take care of our community in our community—has, and will continue, to remain constant.

And, finally, I can’t end without acknowledging our generous supporters to the “Invest.Impact.Inspire” capital campaign which met its stretch goal of $23 million way ahead of schedule. The campaign started with an outpouring of support from the Inspira family and then entered the public phase which brought in generous pledges from community members and businesses.

What’s next? Stay tuned for the opening of our leading-edge cancer center on the Mullica Hill campus in early 2020!