San Diego’s Sharp Memorial Hospital has been dubbed the “Most Beautiful Hospital in the World” by the health care information network and publication, HealthExecNews.com.
Sharp Memorial – located at 7901 Frost St. -- topped a list of 25 hospitals across the U.S. and countries such as Austria, Canada, China, Switzerland and the U.K. who were applauded for their interior and exterior design.
The local hospital’s patient-centered care and aesthetic beauty helped it land top honors.
The list was decided by a panel of experts from the editorial board of HealthExecNews.com, who spent several months narrowing down standout, stunning hospitals around the globe.
The hospitals that made the cut were judged on their design and the role their appealing aesthetic played in the health and recovery of their patients. Other factors included eco-friendliness and the alignment with consideration to the hospital’s natural surroundings.
“Studies have shown that a healing, therapeutic environment can aid in a patient’s recovery,” said Tim Smith, executive vice president and CEO, Sharp Memorial Hospital.
Sharp Memorial Hospital’s design includes hotel-like amenities, live music played on a baby grand piano and ocean views from the top floors of the west tower.
Additionally, nursing station desktops are shaped like surfboards and all private rooms feature sofas that convert into beds so loved ones can spend the night accompanying a patient.
The hospital boasts nearly 1,000 pieces of art in public and private spaces and a calming garden featuring a bamboo grove, camellia tree and benches for relaxation.
Sharp Memorial was established in 1955 and completed an elaborate expansion in 2009, becoming San Diego’s first hospital with all private patient rooms. Their new 315,000-square-foot, 334-bed Stephen Birch Healthcare Center structure is the first new hospital to open in San Diego since 1993, according to Sharp.
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