Mike Wolanin | Inside the Columbus Regional Health Facility at Nexus Park in Columbus, Indiana, Monday, January 22, 2024.
The Columbus Regional Health Authority on Monday unveiled a $54 million Nexus Park facility designed for more efficient and streamlined care and to provide a better working environment and space for employees. The campus' $54 million, homely, art-filled environment was unveiled to the media.
The unveiling ceremony was a public preview of the house today, beginning with a ribbon cutting at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce at 11:30 a.m., followed by tours of the facility from noon to 6 p.m. The new space will house 17 different medical offices. End of April.
Only one clinic, Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates, is currently operating there, with other clinics to follow in the coming days.
The project is just one part of the reuse of the former Fair Oaks Mall and represents the hospital's largest financial investment outside of its 17th Street campus, said Jim Bickel, the hospital's president and chief executive officer. .
This is part of a previously touted collaboration between the hospital and the City of Columbus and the Columbus Department of Parks and Recreation to transform the former mall into a health, wellness and recreation facility.
Hospital leaders praised the project partners: BSA LifeStructures, RSP Architects, SSR Engineers and Turner Construction.
The 125,000-square-foot space, which has been in the works for five years, features sleek skylights in the glass ceiling of the former Fair Oaks Mall and about a dozen others added to bring natural light into the 25th Street property. It is characterized by a bright atmosphere due to the skylight. An old skylight may be the only element of Nexus Park's hospital section that visitors will recognize from the former Fair Oaks facility.
“As you can imagine, converting a shopping mall into a medical facility was not an easy task,” Bickel said, noting that the project also had to overcome the pandemic and its hurdles. “But we used tremendous input from patients, customers, physicians, and other healthcare professionals to design the space and make it a reality.
“Therefore, the addition of this facility for CRH will help further our mission to improve the health and well-being of the people we serve, grow our high-quality care and services, and This aligns with our strategy to attract and retain top talent.”
Immediately recognizable features for patients include the modern glass entrance number 3, located near the site of the former Elder-Biermann department store. Landscape-oriented abstract art pieces, including works by local creators, are created in bright mural banners and framed prints, and the first hallway is lined with a floor pattern that resembles a meandering river flow.
Nearby, a physical and occupational therapy space opening Monday features a series of artistic murals featuring snippets of scenes from Mill Race Park.
Additionally, 3D art elements such as sculptures will be coming soon.
Some of the modern furniture in the spacious lounge area makes it look more like a stylish art gallery than a medical facility.
Many chairs include a power lift for patients who need assistance getting up.
Plans are also in place to make the facility dementia-friendly and training will begin soon.
Monday's tour was led by four key members of the hospital's leadership: Bickel, David Rennert, vice president of strategic facility planning and operations, and Rachel, vice president and deputy chief medical officer. – Dr. Reed, Mr. Casey Gibson, System Construction Services Manager.
Reed, who is part of the Columbus Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, which moved here from a nearly 50-year-old building in late October, said the quieter, more peaceful atmosphere has created a quieter, more peaceful atmosphere for patients, including soundproofing measures to improve patient privacy and peace. They said they noticed it right away. .
Reed said one patient told her, “Next time I'll bring you a book (to read).”
Reed himself is looking for an easily adjustable ergonomic desk that allows staff to work standing or sitting, and an addition that gives doctors privacy and allows them to focus on responsibilities such as patient charting. I love the space. Staff also have access to break rooms, quiet rooms for personal time, and other amenities to intentionally share with other clinics in a team-building effort of sorts within the Columbus area. .
“CRH at NexusPark is amazing,” Reed said. “Every aesthetic, from the color palette to the artwork to the furniture, creates a truly peaceful yet truly vibrant employee and patient experience. I think of his NexusPark as a model for the future of healthcare. I am.”
Wayfinding elements are simply made up of clearly marked letters of the alphabet, making it easy for non-English speaking visitors to find what they need, such as the clinic or child monitoring area (surcharge). can do. Each clinic also has a unique color scheme to help visitors become familiar with their surroundings.
Access is available at the front entrance for people in wheelchairs or those who support people with walking difficulties.
Security has also been strengthened to the forefront, with doors in medical staff areas automatically locking. The exam rooms are the same in every office, allowing patients to build a comfort level and familiarity, no matter what specialty they require.
Renato said the design and construction process was very team-oriented, with “architects, engineers, interior designers and owners working on equal fronts.” Therefore, every voice was heard, every experience was given equal weight, and we came up with the best of everyone's ideas. ”
He said the same holds true for ideas he picked up from other medical and wellness facilities during his visits to states like Tennessee and Michigan.
Lennart added that most of the hospitals moving to Nexus Park are not moving from buildings owned by hospitals, but from rental buildings where landlords control tenants.
Clinic
These are the offices scheduled to open in Nexus Park by the end of April. Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates moved in in October.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Associates of Columbus
- healthy community
- BCSC Clinic
- PT Solutions Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
- Well Connect
- Doctors Park Family Medicine
- lau family medicine
- Medication support program
- Inspection services at Nexus Park (formerly Middle Road location)
- sandcrest family medicine
- audiology
- driving rehabilitation
- Home medicine/internal medicine
- Neurology and sleep science
- columbus pediatrics
- Imaging with NexusPark
- VIMCare Clinic
Today's open house
The public is invited to attend a special Columbus Regional Health Open House on the Nexus Park Campus today from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., including a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Columbus Regional Chamber of Commerce. The event begins at 11:30 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and self-guided tours of portions of the facility will be available from noon to 6 p.m. Tours are available throughout the open house.
The event is free. Attendees must enter the facility through Entrance 3, located on the southwest side of the facility, off 25th Street (where Elder's Biermann's department store was once located).
Please use the main campus parking lot for parking.
