INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT Healthcare
New Hospital for the
Next Generation of Care
On December 6, 2014, UT Southwestern’s new
William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital opened
its doors, a gleaming, high-tech manifestation of
the system’s dedication to improving patient care
for North Texans and beyond. It is named for a
beloved former governor, a larger-than-life Texan whose success in the oil and gas industry enabled his gifts of more than $100 million to UT
Southwestern. Specially designed and equipped
around the needs of patients and their families, this
12-floor, 1.3 million-sq.-ft., 460-bed hospital integrates UT Southwestern’s patient care, education
and research missions.
Best practices gathered from facilities across the
country resulted in the addition of areas where
real estate enables a different approach to care and
learning. For example, conference rooms tucked
away on patient floors allow professionals to continue their learning within the clinical environment,
and medical students to gather with their physicians to discuss teachable moments without standing in the hall. A dedicated Education Center in
the hospital allows videoconferencing ability directly into operating rooms within the facility or across
the world. A bird’s eye view allows students and
other medical professionals in the Education Center
classrooms to see what’s happening in great detail.
The patient experience is of paramount importance
in this new facility. Private patient rooms that take
Dr. Rody Cox, professor of Internal Medicine, on rounds with UT
Southwestern medical school students
6
“With
Nobel Laureates
and with the opening last December of the William P. Clements Jr.
University Hospital, an academic
medical center for its innovative
design, integration of UT Southwestern’s research, education,
and patient care missions, and
commitment to providing patient-centric care, UT Southwestern has created a new landmark
for North Texas.”
advantage of natural light, soothing colors and
modern materials are just one aspect of what makes
this hospital an emblem of clinical care. Creative
thought went into eliminating the congestion and
noise that typically characterizes hospital hallways
with a “back-of-house” philosophy, well known to
companies like Disney, that keeps supplies, meals,
medications and bulky medical equipment to their
own designated elevators and supply areas. Secured
cabinets outside of patient rooms house supplies
and medications needed for each patient, and builtin documentation areas outside of each room allow
nurses to remain close to patients while keeping
charts current via the electronic medical records
system. Large screens and videoconferencing abilities in each room allow for connection to all necessary medical experts and their families and friends.
aring for Patients
C
Across the World
“UT Southwestern, an institution founded by visionary community leaders, has benefited immeasurably from its North Texas location,” said Daniel
K. Podolsky, M.D., president of UT Southwestern
Medical Center. “The ongoing philanthropic support from the community, along with the many
attractions of the region, has made it possible to
attract premier medical and scientific talent and to
build an expansive campus characterized by stateof-the-art laboratory and clinical facilities.
“With six Nobel Laureates and with the opening
last December of the William P. Clements Jr. Uni-
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www.ntc-dfw.org
FALL/WINTER 2015
versity Hospital, an academic medical center for its
innovative design, integration of UT Southwestern’s research, education, and patient care missions,
and commitment to providing patient-centric care,
UT Southwestern has created a new landmark
for North Texas.”
Even if patients are not physically recovering within
the walls of the new William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital, they can take advantage of the expertise offered there. A special hotline allows clinicians
anywhere to access the Advanced Comprehensive
Stroke Center, the only center in North Texas to
receive certification from the Joint Commission,
one of only two in the state of Texas, and the only
dual-certified hospital system in the nation. This
new level of certification recognizes the significant
resources in infrastructure, staff and training that
comprehensive stroke centers must have to provide state-of-the-art complex stroke care. As one
of the nation’s top stroke treatment facilities, UT
Southwestern treats more aneurysm cases than any
other facility. Neurosurgeons throughout Texas and
the region refer their most complex cases to UT
Southwestern for the treatment of serious stroke,
threatened stroke and arteriovenous malformations.
Clinicians from across the U.S. tap into this deep
experience when they need it most.
“UT Southwestern is fortunate to have national
leaders in every neuroscience specialty,” said
Mark Goldberg, M.D., professor and chair, Neurology and Neurotherapeutics at UT Southwestern.
Earlier this year, UT Southwestern’s Simmons Cancer Center was named a Compre [