New Colorado hospital takes neighborhood approach to healthcare

As the goal of healthcare providers shifts from caring for the sick to improving the overall health of the community, hospital design and services have changed dramatically as well. Nowhere will that be more evident than in the planned $177 million St. Anthony North Health Campus in Westminster, Colorado.

Owned by Centura Health, the campus will open March 3 and feature a birthing center, intensive care unit, emergency department, surgery centers and a 92-bed hospital that also serves as hub for more than 50 primary and specialty care practices from the region, according to an announcement.

The St. Anthony's campus is "the centerpiece of Centura Health's new neighborhood health approach that aligns with larger trends of moving care outside of traditional hospital walls," which includes 11 other neighborhood health centers in the region that are either open or soon to be open, the announcement states.In accordance with community feedback, the facility's natural, luxurious design will give it the look of "a Colorado resort," according to the announcement.

A recent study, however, indicated that upscale hospital redesigns alone won't boost patients' satisfaction scores. Further, not all hospital leaders are convinced that hotel-like amenities in hospitals truly help improve health outcomes, FierceHealthcare has reported.

But wellness-related offerings also play heavily into the St. Anthony's campus design, as it will feature drop-in childcare for patients; an on-site pharmacy; classes on healthy cooking; a walking path and gardens; and preventive care services such as diabetes education, weight management and mental health services.

These offerings are in line with the American Hospital Association's recommendation that health systems "redefine the H" to mean "health" instead of "hospital," in part by pursuing community health partnerships and other population health management strategies.

Centura Health is hardly alone in its attempt to draw more customers by improving its amenities and services. Some hospitals have taken cues from airport and shopping malls to make their facilities more user-friendly and navigable, while a Florida hospital extended the perks to its employees, offering housing that includes swimming pools, a fitness center and outdoor kitchens.

To learn more:
- here's the announcement
- check out a video about the neighborhood health centers