Information on the UCLA Medical Center

I.M. and C.C. Pei designed the UCLA Medical Center, also referred to as the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. The UCLA medical Center opened for patient care on June 29, 2008. A children's hospital and neuropsychiatry hospital are also contained within the medical center, which features a heliport for trauma-patient transportation.

Physical Characteristics

The entire UCLA Medical Center encompasses over one million square feet of space. The hospital has eight stories above ground and two stories underground. It features four entrances, one for pediatric patients, one for psychiatric patients, one for trauma patients and one for general hospital patients. The medical center also features outdoor play areas that children can utilize, and outdoor gardens and fountains for visitors and patients to enjoy.

Natural Disaster Preparation

I.M. and C.C. Pei conceptualized the design of the UCLA Medical Center to be able to withstand earthquakes, which are common California. The medical center's design enables it to stay functional and structurally sound even during an earthquake surpassing 8.0 on the Richter scale. The medical center can continue giving patient care for up to three days after a major earthquake without drawing on outside power resources.

Patient Facilities

The UCLA Medical Center houses 520 beds for patients who require overnight hospitalization and 61 beds for patients who do not require overnight hospitalization. Hospital patients receive private rooms that have convertible day beds that allow friends and family to stay overnight. Each floor of the UCLA medical center is designated for a particular medical specialty and houses ICU rooms in addition to private hospital rooms. Patients, staff and visitors can access wireless Internet services throughout the hospital.

Visitor Facilities

Visitor facilities include a common dining area, café, cashier's office, gift shop, ATM machine and designated smoking area located on the perimeter of the hospital parking lot. Visitors may utilize valet parking or park in the public campus lot. The medical center provides shuttle service between the hospital and a nearby hotel where families can stay while visiting patients.

Considerations

The UCLA Medical Center discharges patients at 11 a.m. and features a discharge waiting area for patients who are having someone pick them up. The medical center contains a surgical waiting room for friends and family and does not allow children to roam the hospital without an adult. Visiting hours remain open, but may be modified by the patient's wishes or scheduled treatments or surgeries.

References

• UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center: About Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center
• UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center: A Hospital Built to Withstand Natural Disasters
• UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center: Designed for Comfort and Efficiency
• UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center: For Visitors
• UCLA Health System: News Releases