A new walkway outside the front entrance has been added as part of Corona Regional's latest round of renovations.
For Mark Uffer, Chief Executive Officer at Corona Regional, the last 18 months have been busy. “We have a vision to create a facility that can address everyone’s needs, and we are working on it from every angle,” he says. “Our beautiful new emergency room is just one example.”
The new ER was enlarged from 5,400 to 20,000 square feet, and the number of beds increased from 16 to 30. A rapid medical evaluation area was created for less emergent conditions, more nursing stations were added, a dedicated CT scan and MRI were installed and a private room for consultations with medical staff was added. “All of these features were designed to streamline patient flow and result in shorter wait times,” says Uffer. “Another great feature is our stroke telemedicine, available through our affiliation with UC Irvine Health (UCI). Neurologists at UCI can remotely evaluate, diagnose and oversee treatment of patients in our ER with stroke symptoms.” Along with the new ER, the lobby was totally renovated; the front of the hospital was painted; the cafeteria was redone; and new flooring was installed.
Strengthening Physician Relationships
In addition to neurology, Corona Regional has added affiliations with UC Irvine Health physicians in general surgery, gastroenterology and urology. A recent agreement with Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) now brings a higher level of pediatric care to Corona. Uffer says it means greater access for high-risk and critical care pediatric patients who come to the ER. A special robot enables doctors at CHOC to evaluate children at Corona Regional’s ER. The robot is put at the child’s bedside and can gather vital signs and other data, and a monitor allows the doctor to see the child, their parents and ER doctors, all in real time.
“We have also formed relationships with local physicians as we continue our quest for various accreditations,” Uffer says. “We are looking to become a Cardiac Center of Excellence, as well as a STEMI receiving center, and obtain certification for various cardiac procedures. We have cultivated relationships with interventional cardiologists who will be able to perform a more expansive list of procedures once we receive the certifications. We look forward to that happening sometime in the spring.”
Updated Technology
Uffer states that new equipment has been purchased, which can contribute to better outcomes for patients undergoing surgery. “We have new operating tables for spinal surgeries; as well as new minimally invasive technologies for diagnosing the severity of acid reflux and for removing blood clots during vascular surgery; and endoscopic ultrasound equipment used for staging cancers of the esophagus, stomach, pancreas and bile duct. We are also working on creating a spine institute,” he says.
Another new service available is low-dose CT screening for possible lung cancer. This is especially important for anyone who may be at risk for developing lung cancer. The test takes just a few minutes and uses only one quarter of the radiation as compared to a standard CT scan, which reduces the amount of your exposure.
Our most recent renovations include an updated lobby and cafeteria.
Recognition for Patient Safety and Satisfaction
For the second year in a row, the hospital received a Patient Safety Excellence Award™ from Healthgrades. “Corona Regional is the only hospital in Riverside County named among the top five percent in the nation for Patient Safety two years in a row,” says Uffer. “This designation shines the spotlight on superior hospital performance in preventing infections, medical errors and other complications based on 14 serious, potentially preventable adverse events.”
Patient satisfaction scores have risen as well, and continue to climb. Uffer says it is a result of new processes that have been put into place to address quality initiatives and patient safety concerns. “We were invited to speak at the Press Ganey national conference in November. It was an honor, because more than 1,000 facilities apply to present about their hospital,” says Uffer. “It says a lot about the work we are doing and will continue to do to ensure that our patients receive the high quality healthcare services they expect and deserve.”