Renovation and expansion propel The Jewish Hospital-Mercy Health into a new era in care, combining a tradition of excellence with state-of-the-art innovation for healing and education while continuing to honor Jewish heritage and traditions.
“At The Jewish Hospital, our physicians and staff have a passion for excellence,” says Donald L. Wayne, M.D., vice president of medical affairs. “We’re driven to make a difference by offering our patients new, advanced treatments that can change their lives.”
At the heart of the current $94 million expansion project is a new five-story Jewish Hospital tower at the corner of Kenwood and Galbraith roads, which is scheduled to open in 2016. The expansion is part of more than $130 million Mercy Health has invested in The Jewish Hospital since the Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati transferred ownership in 2010.
“Throughout its history, The Jewish Hospital has been a superior healthcare provider in the region,” says Beth Guttman, president of the foundation. “The Jewish Foundation and Mercy Health share a commitment to continued excellence at the hospital, and to strengthening its legacy of care and service to the community.”
The Jewish Hospital, founded in 1850 to address a cholera epidemic in Cincinnati, was the first Jewish hospital in the United States. Building on this foundation of caring, the new cutting-edge facility will add 140,000 square feet to The Jewish Hospital, making it a more patient-friendly campus by addressing the safety and comfort needs of aging patients and offering all private rooms, equipped with smart technology. In addition to a more welcoming design and layout for patients and families, the renewal project will include an expanded and more efficient emergency department.
The third floor of the new tower will be dedicated to cancer services, including the Blood Cancer Center, where clinicians care for patients with any blood cancer or disorder. The center performs more than 120 blood stem cell and bone marrow transplants annually. Boasting the first stem cell program in the region, The Jewish Hospital is one of only 194 facilities in the world to be accredited by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT), whose rigorous standards signify overall excellence and an exceptional level of quality patient care.
“Treating patients with cancer effectively means caring for body, mind and spirit,” says James Essell, M.D., medical director of the Blood Cancer Center. “Hospital renovations will enhance our ability to serve patients and their loved ones.”
In keeping with their dedication to advanced heart care, the Heart Institute at The Jewish Hospital is creating a new open-heart surgery suite and a hybrid operating room. “Excellent heart care at The Jewish Hospital will become even stronger with two new operating rooms and state-of-the-art facilities that expand our capabilities,” says Jonathan Rapp, M.D., cardiologist.
With all of the renovation and expansion, however, some things remain the same. The Jewish Hospital continues to serve and honor people of all backgrounds, while preserving Jewish traditions, such as the blowing of the shofar at meetings and celebrations. As one of only 14 Jewish hospitals still in existence nationally, The Jewish Hospital honors its heritage with a shofar as the official hospital logo and mezuzah at the hospital entrance, signifying a commitment to Jewish identity and teachings.
Hospital patients may order from a regular menu or request a kosher menu, with kosher meals being overseen by a rabbi specifically trained to inspect institutional kitchens. Volunteer musicians play traditional Jewish music for holidays and celebrations. In partnership with The Jewish Hospital, Cedar Village delivers Shabbat baskets to Jewish patients, along with Shabbat candles and greeting cards made by children at the Jewish Community Center and Adath Israel Synagogue.
“As the first and oldest Jewish hospital in the United States, we are committed to living our Jewish heritage every day,” says Pat Davis-Hagens, president of The Jewish Hospital and central market leader for Mercy Health. “We foster Jewish history and traditions so our Jewish patients and their loved ones feel at home here.
“The transformation of The Jewish Hospital’s campus fulfills the promise of this community treasure,” she continues. “We are creating the environment for our patients to have the best experience possible, for our providers to do their best work, and for the next generation of physicians to learn most effectively.”
The Jewish Hospital – Mercy Health is located at 4777 East Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45236. You can reach them at 513.686.3000 or visit their website at e-mercy.com/jewish-hospital.