ASHE Celebrates 2018 Winners of Prestigious Vista Awards | ASHE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2018

CHICAGO – The Vista Awards, which celebrate teamwork and excellence in health care facility projects, will be presented later this month to Mercy Hospital Joplin in Missouri, Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Kansas and Nebraska Medicine. The projects won in the categories of best new construction, renovation and infrastructure, respectively.

The Vista Awards are presented by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering (ASHE) of the American Hospital Association. The Vista Awards are not design awards. Instead, they recognize the significance of collaboration, communication and teamwork in creating optimal health care environments. The awards will be presented at the 2018 International Summit & Technical Exhibition on Health Care Planning, Design & Construction (PDC Summit) in Nashville March 25-28.  

New Construction
Mercy Hospital Joplin
Joplin, Missouri

In 2011, a devastating EF-5 tornado ripped through Joplin and destroyed St. John’s Regional Medical Center. Planning a new facility to replace the facility began almost immediately after the storm. Four years later, the new Mercy Hospital Joplin includes storm-hardened features to protect against future storms. The design and construction firms involved in the project worked closely and communicated often with Mercy to create a hospital that would improve patient care and the patient experience.

“This incredible facility combines beauty without opulence, and creates a warm and friendly environment for patients, families, and caregivers,” said Mercy Hospital Joplin President and CEO Gary Pulsipher. “It is an awesome building.”

Renovation
Shawnee Mission Medical Center
Merriam, Kansas

Shawnee Mission Medical Center made a significant reinvestment in renovating the first floor of its main campus. “We needed a facility that visually matched the unsurpassed commitment to excellence our clinical staff provides each and every day,” said Ken Bacon, President and CEO of Shawnee Mission Health.

The team worked closely together to complete the renovation while taking special care to support the organization’s mission to heal the mind, body and spirit. Special focus was placed on four Cs during the project: communication, collaboration, cooperation and coordination. The renovation contributed to organizational goals and improved patient experiences.

Infrastructure
Nebraska Medicine
Omaha, Nebraska

Collaboration helped make the Nebraska Medicine University Towers electrical upgrade a success. The upgraded electrical system has achieved efficiency targets while being more reliable. Teamwork helped ensure there were no unscheduled outages throughout the multi-year project.

“Team members were dedicated and forward-thinking, and their combined effort was integrated and seamless,” said Kenneth L. Hansen, Vice President, Nebraska Medicine Facilities. “The result is a final design that will serve our staff and patients well for many decades.”

For more information about the Vista Awards and the winners, visit the ASHE website at:  www.ashe.org/vista.