New Peninsula Medical Center wins crucial city, district approvals

Unanimous approvals from the City of Burlingame and the Peninsula Health Care District have paved the way for Mills-Peninsula's new hospital in Burlingame. Early in December the Peninsula Health Care District approved a preliminary lease agreement and the Burlingame Planning Commission and City Council in November approved the environmental impact report (EIR) and design with praise for the project's importance to the community.

The new hospital will replace Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame as required to meet state seismic safety requirements. The existing hospital will remain in operation until the new facility is ready to open.

"This is a milestone moment that represents literally years of work," CEO Bob Merwin said. "I am grateful to our project team for seeing us through, to our community, the district and Burlingame planners and City Council.

"Unanimous approval is rare. This support for our new hospital is a terrific message to the community," the CEO said.

As approved, the new hospital will provide:

243 beds, plus ability to expand

Family sleeping accommodations in patient rooms

Almost all single-patient rooms

Expanded Emergency Department

State-of-the-art technology, including electronic medical records

Highest level of seismic safety engineering

Specialty physician offices adjacent to hospital patient rooms

809-car parking garage

Following final approval by the Peninsula Health Care District Board on the proposed lease agreement for the hospital site, the project will be put before district residents in a Spring 2005 ballot.