USC will begin planning for the construction of a new, state-of-the-art hospital on its Health Sciences Campus, focused on the high-acuity services that are the emphasis of the Keck Medicine of USC medical enterprise.
President C. L. Max Nikias announced the vision for the new medical facility at his State of the University addresses at the Health Sciences and University Park campuses on Feb. 14 and 15.
This expansion of clinical facilities is necessitated by the significant growth the medical enterprise has experienced in virtually all areas over the last four years. In fact, the current hospitals that comprise Keck Medicine of USC are nearing capacity.
In his remarks, Nikias noted that USC’s clinical revenues have more than quadrupled in the last six years to more than $1.5 billion, while at the same time Keck Hospital of USC had the nation’s highest acuity rate, meaning it provides care for the most difficult medical cases.
“We can see what the identity of USC medicine can be in coming years,” Nikias said. “One that proudly delivers high-end care, combines medical sciences innovation with true community service and is in ever-closer partnerships with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center.”
‘The care of the future’
Tom Jackiewicz, senior vice president and CEO of Keck Medicine of USC, said the new facility “will provide the care of the future.”
“Health care has changed significantly since the current hospitals were built,” Jackiewicz said. “Our new facility will combine inpatient and outpatient care to reflect how health care is delivered today, as well as where it’s heading. It will function as a true academic medical center, incorporating spaces uniquely designed for education of trainees, as well as bringing our research closer to the patients we serve.”
Jackiewicz said the new facility will integrate the best of medical and surgical advances with rapidly evolving technologies from other fields, such as artificial intelligence and nanotechnology. It also will incorporate the best of USC — not just the Keck School of Medicine of USC, but also collaborations with allied health professions from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC, the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work and the USC School of Pharmacy, and will also be informed by the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the USC Price School of Public Policy, the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and other schools.
“Overall this new facility will reflect and further advance the cutting-edge medicine and surgery we are performing across the clinical enterprise,” Jackiewicz said.
When will construction start?
Creative concepts for the new facility will be further developed over the next several months, followed by planning and design. Construction could begin as soon as 2020, with plans for completion by 2026.
When announcing the planning for the new hospital, Nikias also noted the work underway to establish a biotechnology park adjacent to the Health Sciences Campus, where county yards are currently located.
“This park can accelerate new business and create many thousands of construction jobs and permanent jobs,” he said. “And it can help make Los Angeles County a global leader in the biotech revolution.”
Between the new hospital and the proposed Biotech Park next door, strengthening the partnership with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and creating a patient experience second to none, “USC can become the biggest and most influential health system in Southern California and the Pacific Rim,” Nikias said.