To help meet the needs of our rapidly growing community, the emergency room at ValleyCare Medical Center in Pleasanton is in great need of expansion. Emergency visits have doubled since 1991 when ValleyCare Medical Center opened. State and local emergency planners tell us we need approximately 10,000 square feet of space. Today, ValleyCare operates in only 4,000 square feet. Not surprisingly, each month as many as 26 patients are waiting in the hallways outside of the emergency area.

$6.7 million is needed for improvements, which includes 23 private treatment rooms, two triage areas and a waiting room to accommodate 30 people instead of 10.

Phase I
Phase I includes the addition of nine private treatment rooms and a nurses station at a cost of $2.7 million. With Alameda County designating $1 million from Measure A funds, coupled with ValleyCare Foundation fundraising efforts, Phase I is underway.

Phase II includes the addition of an enlarged reception/waiting area, two private triage areas and a covered ambulance entrance.

Phase III will add four quick treatment bays. The campaign continues to raise the $4 million needed for Phases II and III.

Donations Welcome
The generosity of many people has made the start of this project possible. We would like to recognize the following major donors to this campaign:

A.J Gallagher
Arnold Clark
Alameda County
"Dinner With the Docs"
Henrietta Fankhauser
Fremont Bank
Tony and Shirley Macchiano
Madden Charities
Bob and Carol Molinaro
Pleasanton Weekly
Ratliff Architects
Ruby Hill Giving Thanks Ball
Scott Haggerty
Sybase
Tri - Valley Community Foundation
ValleyCare Auxiliary

The expansion of the Level II Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at ValleyCare Medical Center from four beds to 10 beds is underway. The growth of the Tri-Valley has placed greater demand for this level of care for newborns who need extra help. ValleyCares collaboration with UCSF Childrens Hospital provides pediatric hospitalists and a neonatalogist 24/7. This allows ValleyCare to care for these babies, as well as pregnant mothers considered high risk, who might otherwise be transferred to hospitals outside the area.

Expansion highlights include:

• Infrastructure for wireless technology that allows ValleyCare to have "wireless on wheels" or WOWs. Nursing documentation, order entry and all lab/xray results will be able to be accessed at the bedside.This allows nurses and physicians to chart and stay at the bedside next to the patient.
  
  
• Recent research of noise and lighting on the premature baby was incorporated into the architectural design. The ceiling and flooring were chosen to help with sound abatement as well as asthestics.
  
  
• Each bed has a parent night light and a staff light that can be dimmed to match the lighting needs of each individual baby.
  
  
• Cost for the expansion is $1.8 million. Funds are still being raised.