LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - Jul 12, 2012) - The only hospital of its kind in Southern California, Barlow Respiratory Hospital today launched a new website aimed at informing Los Angeles County residents about the proposed Barlow Hospital expansion and development project and the critical need for a new facility. The website is part of Barlow Hospital's continued community outreach efforts surrounding the proposed plan whereby Barlow would raise funds from the sale of a portion of its private land to rebuild the hospital to meet seismic requirements, better serve the region and avoid closure -- all while taking precautions to preserve the history and integrity of its campus, which is adjacent to Elysian Park. Los Angeles residents can show their support for the project and the new jobs it will create by submitting a letter to their city councilmember on the website, RebuildBarlow.org.
"The Barlow Hospital Replacement and Master Plan Project is a win-win for the hospital and its surrounding communities," said Mark Pisano, senior fellow at the USC Price School of Public Policy and former executive director of the Southern California Association of Governments. "Not only will the rehabilitation of the hospital serve the health needs of our aging population, but the project also re-imagines how we can use our land resources differently to meet the growing and diverse needs of our population as a whole. If implemented, this project could serve as a model for future developments in the city, the region and even the nation."
Due to seismic requirements set forth in SB 1953, Barlow Respiratory Hospital must obtain City Council approval for its plan to replace the 84-year-old facility or be forced to close. The proposed Barlow Hospital replacement plan will include construction of a 56-bed replacement hospital, associated administration and support facility, and a skilled nursing facility. The remainder of the land will be allocated for potential development options that might include residential housing units, assisted living, senior living and neighborhood-serving commercial uses with a percentage of the property allocated to open space. Sustainable design and energy conservation features will be incorporated into all aspects of development.
"The proposed Barlow Hospital replacement plan will help increase the Echo Park community's economic base by creating and retaining more than 4,800 good union jobs, and supporting local businesses and working families," said labor leader Maria Elena Durazo. "Neither Barlow nor the community can afford to let this opportunity pass."
"The thousands of construction jobs that the Barlow Hospital replacement plan will generate over the next 10 years come at a critical time for our workforce," said Robbie Hunter, executive-secretary for the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council. "What's more, 30 percent of these construction jobs will go to workers who live within five miles of Barlow, making this a vital project for the community."
In addition to the economic and community benefits created by the proposed project, Barlow Respiratory Hospital is the only not-for-profit, long-term acute care respiratory hospital in Southern California and a critical link in the region's healthcare system. More than 70 hospitals throughout Southern California refer their most critically ill patients who require specialized services such as ventilator weaning to Barlow -- including academic medical hospitals. Each ICU patient transferred to Barlow frees up bed space for more ICU patients at the referring hospital, easing the pressure these hospitals face in providing care.
To learn more about Barlow Respiratory Hospital, the Barlow Hospital Replacement and Master Plan Project and how you can support it, visit RebuildBarlow.org.
About Barlow Respiratory Hospital
Barlow Respiratory Hospital, a not-for-profit, long-term acute care specialty hospital, is one of the nation's top healthcare providers for patients with respiratory and other complex illnesses. From nationally recognized success rates in ventilator weaning to a life-changing pulmonary rehabilitation program, Barlow's team of experts offers hope to patients seeking treatment of critical illnesses. For more than two decades, Barlow Respiratory Research Center has pioneered innovation in clinical research, shaping healthcare with its TIPS® Protocol and ventilator weaning success rates that are among the highest in the nation. As Barlow enters its 110th year of service, it continues its legacy as the only not-for-profit, long-term acute care respiratory hospital in Southern California with locations in downtown Los Angeles and satellite facilities in Van Nuys and Whittier, CA. To learn more, visit www.barlowhospital.org.