This month I’m delighted to tell you about two quite different developments that should make our hospital practices not only easier and more efficient but, believe it or not, more satisfying and enjoyable as well. It’s rare - even after this season of optimism and planned good cheer - that we are able to provide “happy news” about the future of our practice environment, but here we go:

The hospital is completing installation of a wireless (WiFI) network to provide physicians and SHC staff in the coming weeks with less fettered access to the hospital’s network and other resources, including the Internet. [See details]. The system doesn’t do everything right now we hope to achieve in the coming years, but our ability to log-on and capture patient data and other information on our laptops as we move around the hospital is indeed a significant, potentially culture enhancing, step forward.

Second, thanks in large part to the efforts and enthusiasm of my presidential predecessor, neurologist Bruce Adornato, we have started construction on the new Medical Staff Center. This is an area, otherwise called a “physicians’ lounge,” that will be available to all of the approximately 1,800 members of the Stanford Medical Staff. This is wonderful news, but in another sense I could say we have been remiss in not providing such an amenity for our medical staff much earlier. Perhaps our retired colleagues can join us from time to time in the lounge they never had before. By the way, it’s worth noting that for several years a generous grant from the family of Helen and Peter Bing has made possible a very well-equipped lounge for our housestaff. So now the medical staff will have a facility for our own use as well.

The Stanford Medical Staff is funding 100 percent of this project, including planning, construction, and furnishing from its Medical Staff Dues Account. We’ve all paid for it, and I hope we will all enjoy it. We project completion of the Center by spring. Watch for an announcement of an Open House Reception for the Medical Staff when it is completed.

The Medical Staff Center will be located across from the Gift Shop on the first floor of the hospital. The entrance doors will have ID-Card access keyed to each Medical Staff member’s name. As true scientists, we will be able to compile and retrieve usage statistics for this area.

What will the Medical Staff Center provide?

First of all, it will be very tastefully furnished with comfortable and utilitarian furniture. We have worked carefully on the colors of the walls, carpet, furniture, ceiling, etc., to provide a restful, pleasant environment.

The center/lounge will include a 42-inch flat-screen TV, comfortable chairs, a good coffeemaker, a refrigerator stocked with free drinks, a microwave, and some non-perishable food such as popcorn and other snack items. We will also have a counter to place snacks or even impromptu meals, although the housekeeping details concerning food will have to be worked out.

You’ll even be able to get some work done. The Center includes two office areas with computers that can access the Internet, e-mail, or patient information. Multi-function printers/ scanners/ fax/ copiers will be available. These office areas can be closed off for private work or conversations. They will also be available for the Medical Staff president and vice president to conduct private meetings.

We hope that this area will provide a much-needed space that can be used by all Medical Staff members to relax and meet with colleagues.

In addition to my presidential mentor, Bruce Adornato, I do wish to thank our hospital administration, notably Mike Peterson, our COO, who found and dedicated this space to the Medical Staff; Martha Marsh, our CEO, who supported the project; and Sandi Edgar, director of Medical Staff Services, who helped smooth over countless details

I do believe that these two initiatives - WiFi and our Medical Staff Center - bode well for us all at this benchmark time of year. And to that I can add my own best wishes for the New Year. As always, I welcome your thoughts and input at kgarman@stanford.edu.