A Tour of the Hospital

You might have images in your head of what a hospital should look like. Stanford U.M.C is different.

To give you, especially those of you who are far away, an idea of the country club in which Amacker finds herself, I snapped a few pictures this afternoon. You can click the pictures to make them bigger.

There are several fountains around the buildings, and plenty of shady spots to sit and read a book.

Dramatic landscaping helps give ambient light to rooms on every floor.

Flower gardens are well-tended.

The morning Tai Chi classes are well attended. The Stanford Jazz Ensembles and other groups often play in the afternoons.

Three-story windows provide ambient light throughout the hospital. Notice the window cleaner in the lower left of the picture.

Even the cafeteria is lit by a skylight and serves Starbucks coffee and food that is something better than institutional.

And well-behaved children are welcome throughout, but not in the I.C.U. In this case, the well-behaved children are mine.