Hoag Hospital is making waves in Orange County with its upcoming $1 billion Sun Family Campus expansion in Irvine. Set to open next September, this ambitious project promises to revolutionize healthcare in the region, offering a comprehensive range of services under one roof. Hoag aims to eliminate the need for patients to seek specialized care elsewhere by bringing together cutting-edge technology and expert physicians.
The expansion includes six new buildings, featuring a dedicated women’s hospital, a state-of-the-art surgical pavilion, and a specialized digestive health and cancer institute. This significant investment reflects Hoag’s commitment to providing top-tier medical services to the community. The expansion isn’t just about adding buildings; it’s about creating an integrated healthcare ecosystem.
This article delves into the details of the Hoag expansion, exploring the perspectives of the physicians leading these new specialty centers and what this means for the future of healthcare in Orange County. The key areas we will cover include the new facilities, the specialized care offered, and the overall vision for Hoag’s role in the community’s health.
Inside Hoag’s $1 Billion Expansion
The Sun Family Campus is an expansive project featuring six new buildings designed to create a comprehensive healthcare destination. Among these is a dedicated women’s hospital, addressing a full spectrum of women’s health needs. The surgical pavilion will house 11 operating rooms equipped with the latest technology, including robotic-assisted surgery. The digestive health and cancer institute will integrate advanced diagnostic and treatment options.
With 155 inpatient beds, 24 labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum suites, and a 17-bed NICU, the campus is designed to support various patient needs. A worship center and a wellness park add to the holistic approach, emphasizing mental and physical well-being. These facilities represent a significant upgrade in Hoag’s ability to provide comprehensive care.
Dr. Allyson Brooks emphasizes that the goal is to consolidate various medical services in one convenient location. “Patients can receive screenings, imaging, doctor consultations, surgery and access clinical trials — all on the same campus,” she notes. This integration is expected to streamline patient care and improve outcomes.
Specialized Care Centers: A Closer Look
One of the distinguishing features of Hoag’s expansion is the focus on specialized care centers. Dr. Steven Grossman leads the cancer institute, which will feature a 24/7 cancer urgent care center. “Show up if you have cancer and you have a problem that needs attention anytime of the day, certainly in the middle of the night, weekends and holidays,” he states. This center is designed to provide immediate care for cancer patients, differentiating Hoag from other hospitals in the region.
The women’s health institute, led by Dr. Allyson Brooks, aims to offer a full range of services for women and their families. “I envision the Sun Family Campus will allow women to feel that we can take care of them all in one location, her and her children, her spouse or partner in life, her parents,” says Brooks. This holistic approach ensures that families can receive comprehensive care without needing to leave their community.
Dr. Kenneth Chang is focusing on preventive care and early detection in the digestive health institute. His goal is to turn the community hospital into a research leader and ultimately eliminate esophageal and colon cancer in Orange County. This involves addressing pre-cancerous conditions like obesity, diabetes, and heartburn through a weight and metabolic center offering integrated behavioral, nutritional, and medical support.
Hoag’s Vision for Community Health
Hoag’s expansion goes beyond just new buildings and specialized centers; it represents a vision for improving community health. Dr. Kenneth Chang emphasizes the importance of preventive care, aiming to decrease the incidence of cancer in Orange County. “We’re dreaming about how do we actually decrease the cancer prevalence incidence in Orange County,” he explains. This involves early detection and addressing risk factors through comprehensive programs.
The new weight and metabolic center is a key component of this vision, offering a full spectrum of care from behavioral and mental health support to nutritional guidance and surgical procedures. “When a patient walks in, they receive care without having to worry about which center that person needs to tap into next,” Chang notes. This integrated approach is designed to streamline care and improve patient outcomes.
Dr. Allyson Brooks highlights the convenience and comprehensive nature of the new campus, noting that patients and their families won’t need to leave Orange County for specialized care. “They’ll be able to come right here, and they’ll be able to get here from the 405 or the 5 or the 133 or they can fly in as a destination into John Wayne Airport,” she says. This accessibility is a critical part of Hoag’s commitment to community health.
The Future of Healthcare in Orange County
Hoag isn’t the only major player expanding in Irvine; City of Hope and UC Irvine are also set to add millions of square feet of new hospital and health education space. This growth reflects the increasing demand for healthcare services in the region. By the end of the decade, Irvine is poised to become a healthcare hub, offering a wide range of specialized services.
Dr. Steve Grossman believes that the focus on specialized care and research will attract top physicians and researchers to Hoag. “People just want to come here,” he says, “whether I’m talking to PhD researchers, physicians, physician scientists, advanced practice providers, there’s something magnetic about this place.” This influx of talent is expected to further enhance the quality of care at Hoag.
The expansion also allows Hoag to tailor care to the ethnic composition of its surrounding community. Dr. Kenneth Chang notes that liver and stomach cancers disproportionately affect the Asian population, prompting Hoag to develop a hyper-focused advanced liver program. “Our leadership is poised to look at that and to provide that kind of care, education, awareness, and again, the same depth of care that you would see in top-level hospitals in Asia,” he explains.
Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts
Hoag’s $1 billion Sun Family Campus expansion represents a significant investment in the future of healthcare in Orange County. With new facilities, specialized care centers, and a vision for community health, Hoag is poised to become a leader in the region. The expansion promises to provide comprehensive, convenient, and cutting-edge medical services to patients and their families.
The focus on preventive care, early detection, and tailored treatments reflects a proactive approach to healthcare. By addressing risk factors and providing integrated support, Hoag aims to decrease the incidence of cancer and other diseases in the community. The new weight and metabolic center and the 24/7 cancer urgent care center are key components of this vision.
In conclusion, Hoag’s expansion is more than just a construction project; it’s a commitment to improving the health and well-being of Orange County residents. As the Sun Family Campus prepares to open its doors next September, the community can look forward to a new era of comprehensive, specialized, and accessible healthcare.
Leave a Reply