Community residents turned out en masse on Oct. 4, 2008, for a first glimpse of the gleaming new Los Angeles County–University of Southern California (LAC+USC) Medical Center located in Lincoln Heights.

The open house showcased the Level I trauma, 600-bed hospital, which replaces the 1933 icon that was severely damaged in the Northridge earthquake 14 years ago. Construction on the 1.5 million square-foot property began in 2003, and the hospital is expected to open in November once licensing inspections are completed.

“For decades, LAC+USC has been a beacon to people from all walks of life seeking high-quality medical care, and that historic mission will continue in this amazing new hospital,” LAC+USC CEO Pete Delgado told us.

With three towers (outpatient, diagnostic and inpatient) and an ED that boasts 109 beds and state-of-the-art technology and equipment, the new facility is the crown jewel in the county’s safety net hospital network.

Being in downtown L.A., major portions of the new facility have been designed to withstand a magnitude 8.0 earthquake. Also impressive, the hospital was intentionally designed to be completely self-sustainable for 72 hours in the event of a major disaster.

As we go to press, nursing staff and other LAC+USC Medical Center professionals have been relocating to the shiny new facility throughout the past week — a daunting task while maintaining an already occupied hospital. Irene Recendez, CNO, told us, “The challenges in training are multiple. We are training a very large group of nursing staff on various equipment, workflow changes and patient move processes. At the same time we have to ensure that the patients we currently have on wards are cared for.” No doubt the nurses at the new LAC+USC Medical Center will live up to those challenges with their usual outstanding professionalism.

For hiring opportunities and more information about LAC+USC, please go to www.ladhs.org/wps/portal/nursing or call (888) 45-NURSE.