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AVH Master Plan - Overview/Description Building Extraordinary HealthcareAspen Valley Hospital is well known for the extraordinary healthcare it has provided to both locals and visitors for many decades. Uniquely low ratios of staff to patients, highly educated physicians and clinical staff, a comprehensive array of services, the latest in medical technology, and a culture of service excellence have all contributed to the personalized, quality care and reputation of the hospital. But the facility itself, now over 30 years old, must be updated to meet the needs of our community today and in the years to come. Therefore, Aspen Valley Hospital has developed a Master Facilities Plan to upgrade and expand its physical plant. The new modern facility will promote health and healing, enhance the patient and family experience, support the natural environment, and continue Aspen Valley Hospital’s legacy of personalized, compassionate, and comprehensive care. Facts: Total number of square feet upon completion: 215,000 Total number of beds upon completion: 39 Projected construction budget: $100 million Projected construction timeline: Seven years AVH project manager: John Schied External project team: Heery Design, DHM Design, and Sopris Engineering Planning Considerations Over the course of the last three decades since the hospital was originally designed and built, healthcare delivery and technology have changed dramatically, and the demographics of our patient population have evolved as well. Our 31-year old facility is simply no longer adequate to support the efficient delivery of high quality, state-of-the-art healthcare to which Aspen Valley Hospital is committed. As was typical in the 1970s, the hospital was designed and configured as an inpatient facility. A number of services that are offered today -- MRIs, CT scans, nuclear medicine exams, and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation -- were not offered then. Today, well over half the care the hospital delivers is provided on an outpatient basis. Same-day surgeries and technologically sophisticated diagnostic tests administered on an ambulatory basis are the norm. The shift to outpatient services has led to a mix of service areas that causes inefficiencies, overcrowding, lack of patient privacy, and inappropriate patient encounters. The master facilities plan addresses these and other realities of modern healthcare delivery and endeavors to anticipate emerging trends so our hospital remains modern for years to come. Development of the Master Facilities Plan The plan is driven by a comprehensive needs assessment, the hospital’s mission and strategic plan, and contemporary standards for healthcare delivery. The challenge for the project team was to create a plan that allows for the needed expansion and upgrades without disrupting patient services and compromising safety. The experienced project team includes hospital senior management, architects who specialize in hospital projects, land use planners, site planners, interior space designers, structural engineers, and environmental consultants. Medical, nursing and other clinical staff, as well as a community advisory committee, provided important input and direction as well. After years of diligent planning efforts and rigorous scrutiny of the project scope and budget, the plan was unanimously approved by the Aspen Valley Hospital Board of Directors in November 2007, and the PUD application was submitted to the City of Aspen in early 2008. The Master Facilities Plan Components The new facility will be state-of-the-art, environmentally conscious, and patient and family oriented. It will allow for greater efficiencies and enhanced patient privacy and safety, meet contemporary standards, and be worthy of the high standards of excellence demanded by our community and visitors. The patient-centered plan calls for a doubling to tripling in size of all patient service areas, including Emergency, Diagnostic Imaging, Surgery, Patient Care Unit, Intensive Care Unit, Cardiology, Obstetrics, Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, Cardiopulmonary, Cardiac Rehabilitation; Nuclear Medicine, and Physical Therapy as well as the specialty clinics. Other enhancements include increased parking capacity, a new vehicular entrance access, a new cafeteria, a new public lobby area, additional conference rooms, the relocation of the helipad, and medical office space. The plan also provides for private rooms, which are now the industry standard in healthcare. Our patients expect them, and they enhance medical care and address privacy concerns. The Aspen Birth Center, an expansion and renovation of the obstetrical department, is well under way due to a prior approval by county officials. The expansion is completed and new private patient rooms offer the latest in contemporary design. A renovation of the existing obstetrical unit is now underway with completion expected by fall of 2008. Sustainable Design and Construction Design and construction of the new hospital support the principles of environmentally sustainable architecture and engineering. The overall building design is reflective of the hospital’s state-of-the-art capabilities, and the architecture is modern with a warm contemporary feel. The use of renewable and sustainable building materials advances the goal of energy efficiency and environmental awareness. Building materials include stone, brick, metal belting, and many windows to take advantage of the beauty of the setting and natural light. The goal is to not only design and build a “green” hospital but one that can achieve the prestigious designation of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. Very few hospitals are recognized for environmental leadership, let alone strive for it. In our environmentally conscious community, it is imperative. Optimal Healing Environment Extensive research shows that the environmental qualities of a healthcare facility play a large role in promoting optimal health and healing. An essential component of the plan is for Aspen Valley Hospital to be patient and family centered with healing gardens, reflective meditation sites, and the use of water and natural materials that are renewable and sustainable. The use of natural daylight in patient care and staff support areas reduces energy consumption, provides an important connection with nature, and supports a better healing environment. A healing garden, a feature that is now common in healthcare design and construction, will have serve as a quiet, contemplative area. Construction Management Plan The Master Facilities Plan reflects the ultimate build-out of the Aspen Valley Hospital campus. Based on projections, construction of the entire project will take approximately seven years. By sequencing the construction in logical phases, disruption to patients and surrounding neighbors will be minimized. New functions will be built outside of the existing walls. Once those new areas are operational, the existing space will be remodeled. A major priority of the plan is to minimize the hospital’s visual impact on the neighborhood. In that regard, the natural topography of the hospital campus is conducive to expansion. Existing site contours and vegetation maximize the ability to blend the architecture with the surroundings. Approvals, Budget and Funding As required by the City of Aspen, the long-term master facilities plan will be presented to the City for conceptual and final approvals. Presentation and review of the plan will be pursuant to the City’s Planned Unit Development process, which entails review by the Planning and Zoning Commission as well as the City Council. In addition to the City’s land use review process, through a series of meetings, neighbors and other interested community groups and residents will have the opportunity to review the plan and ask questions. From the outset of the planning process, cost containment has been a priority. An initial budget of $100 million has been established for planning purposes. Escalating building costs and inflationary factors will no doubt impact the final, overall budget. Funding for the project will come from a combination of cash reserves, bonds, and philanthropy. For more information about the Master Facilities Plan, please contact project manager John Schied at (970) 544-1149. |
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 "Everyone in same-day surgery, the operating room, and anesthesia were great. I have never had a bad time at Aspen Valley Hospital!" —AVH Patient |
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