printable versionConstruction affects sidewalk area near Packard Hospital
BY KRISTA CONGER
The ongoing construction at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital entered another phase this week with the appearance of temporary fencing that blocks access to the sidewalk on the left side of the hospital's main entry.
Although visitors can still enter and exit the parking garage elevator on level two, they are now routed across to the right side of the driveway to walk up to the hospital.
Additionally, the former 10-minute parking area on that side of the drive will be reserved for the exclusive use of construction vehicles.
Hospital administrators hope that the faculty, staff and visitors accept this temporary inconvenience and noise while on the path to long-term gain.
Within the next few weeks, construction crews will begin jackhammering the concrete walkway and planters behind the fence to create a new privacy barrier for new inpatient rooms for the Bass Center for Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disease. They will also be replacing parts of the exterior of the building and constructing a stairwell to the basement to serve as an emergency exit for the new pediatric surgical suites.
Construction is expected to last for about six months. Stringent infection control procedures, such as negative air flow, HEPA filters and ongoing monitoring for fungal spores, will be observed during this time to protect immunocompromised patients. Extra security personnel and patient relations volunteers will be posted near the new crosswalk throughout the summer to direct visitors and help those who need assistance. Visitors are also encouraged to use the free valet parking service at the hospital's entrance, which has increased staffing to meet anticipated demand.
Questions or concerns about construction plans should be addressed to administrative project director Susan Gray at sgray@lpch.org. Any questions about infection control can be addressed to the hospital's director of infection control, Kathy Mathews, at kmathews@lpch.org.