Issue link: https://blog.providence.org/i/1508536
10 | Health Matters: Providence Cedars-Sinai Tarzana Medical Center Moving with Purpose A triumphant team effort W ith all the fanfare surrounding the opening of the remarkable new Friese Family Tower, there was important behind-the-scenes work to be done. It was a meticulous process as patients, including the critically ill, were safely transferred from the retired 50-year-old building at Providence Cedars- Sinai Tarzana Medical Center. The Oct. 1 move-in date was an extraordinary feat, ensuring that patients and the necessary equipment and services were available in the state-of-the-art five-story patient tower, the pinnacle of the Tarzana Reimagined expansion and renovation project. Behind this complex move lay years of meticulous planning and unwavering dedication from the medical center 's staff. From the early stages of planning, hospital leaders collaborated closely with the design team and the general contractor, McCarthy Building Companies, actively shaping the process and flow of the project. Their input and influence has continued throughout all phases, ensuring a facility that not only prioritizes patient care but also offers a healing environment. Executive Director of Construction Sharon Gross is a guiding force behind this transformative project, which she describes as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity." Having worked for Providence Cedars- Sinai Tarzana Medical Center for more than 28 years, she says it's "surreal" to see the project finally come to fruition. "I've enjoyed learning and gaining a new sense of appreciation for the construction workers and design team and what they go through to get everything done," she says. "We maintained this project while still providing exceptional patient care." Doing so required collaboration across all departments. "Any work that went on inside the hospital, everyone was informed about." To ensure uninterrupted care during construction, hospital staff were kept informed through a daily dispatch of all construction activities that could affect their work. Although there were plenty of challenges along the