Silver Cross to debut hospital during open house

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A patient’s room at the new Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox. | File Photo

Updated: February 12, 2012 8:01AM

Silver Cross Hospital will host a housewarming party 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 12 at its new hospital, 1900 Silver Cross Blvd., in New Lenox — two weeks before it officially opens for business.

Visitors will be able to take a 45-minute self-guided walking tour through several areas in the hospital including the emergency department, imaging, rehabilitation unit, private medical-surgical patient rooms, the birthing center and intensive care.

“This is your opportunity to get a sneak peek before we open our doors on Feb. 26,” Paul Pawlak, Silver Cross Hospital’s president and CEO said. “We will take you into areas that most people never have a chance to see.”

Due to space limitations, reservations for the tour are needed and can be made at www.silvercross.org/newhospital which includes entry into a raffle to win a Kindle Fire.

Parking will be available with a free trolley shuttle service to the main entrance.

Visitors also will see the hospital’s newest technology — the Davinci, a robotic surgical system designed. Visitors will have a chance to win a Sony Bloggie Touch video camera by entering the “Name the Robot” Contest.

Also during the open house, the winner of the $1,000 Save Your Baby’s Due Date drawing will be announced and musical entertainment will be provided by the Eloquence Singers from Sandburg High School in Orland Park from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Joliet Folk Lorico Dancers from 12:45 to 1:45 p.m., New Lenox’s Lincoln-Way West High School Chorale from 2 to 3 p.m. and Joliet’s Mt. Zion Baptist Church Music Ministry from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m.

At the end of the tour, participants can meet the Joliet Slammers’ mascots — Spikes and J.L. Bird — and view the 2011 Frontier League Championship Cup.

Construction of the $370 million six-story hospital began in 2009.

The design features large, private patient rooms, natural and enhanced lighting, sound and noise control, cheerful yet calming colors, bedside care and dedicated family areas.

When the 289-bed hospital opens at 7 a.m. on Feb. 26, patients and families will benefit from new technology and expanded services through partnerships with Children’s Memorial Hospital, The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and the University of Chicago Medical Center. The UCMC and Silver Cross currently are building an outpatient cancer center that will open in April on the New Lenox campus.

Susan DeMar Lafferty, Contributing Editor