The Princeton Healthcare System has launched a fundraising campaign to help finance construction of a new $441 million Princeton University Medical Center, to be located in Plainsboro, N.J.
The campaign, "Design for Healing," focuses on three major areas in the hopes of raising $115 million:
- $100 million would go towards the construction of the hospital;
- $10 million would be allocated to support specific programmatic requests of donors;
- and $5 million would go to unrestricted programmatic needs.
The campaign has already raised $76 million.
UPMC will also invest approximately $40 million in capital improvements at its current site over the next four years. This includes a $10 million investment in a clinical information system and electronic medical records technology.
The new hospital will replace UPMC's current Princeton facility and is scheduled to open in 2011.
Healthcare experts say the way a hospital is designed and built directly impacts the care provided. With this in mind, UPMC officials said the new hospital will incorporate the most current thinking and best practices in healthcare design, resulting in a facility that enhances patient safety, helps eliminate medical errors, reduces infections and improves clinical outcomes.
Design features will include an abundance of natural light; spacious and flexible operating rooms to accommodate robotics and other emerging technologies; single patient rooms that help reduce infection and maximize patient privacy, with amenities such as wireless Internet access, room-dedicated ventilation and temperature control systems and room service dining; and a broad spectrum of energy and resource-conservation innovations.
UPMC will host forums where neighbors, employers and healthcare providers can share their expectations of the new hospital.
Barry S. Rabner, president and CEO of the Princeton Healthcare System, said in a statement on the hospital's Website: "As your neighbor and healthcare provider, we want to work closely with you on this ambitious project. After all, you know more about your healthcare needs and expectations than anyone else. We need to know what you want from your new hospital. We want to work alongside you - supported by the best and brightest minds in healthcare planning, architecture and design - to break new ground in clinical excellence, healthcare technology, patient privacy, safety and comfort."
PHCS plans to relocate the Merwick Care Center in Princeton to the new hospital campus. University Medical Center at Princeton's Acute Rehabilitation Unit, currently on the Merwick campus, also will be relocated to the new hospital.
The hospital's site plan is under review by Plainsboro Township. Hospital leaders hope to break ground later this summer.