New Parkland Hospital Hopes To Give Patients A Comforting Experience

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - One goal organizers had for this expansion was to put the 'Park' back in Parkland, and a new healing garden that has been added, is one example of how the hospital hopes to give patients a comforting experience.

In a sign of how important the new Parkland will be for Dallas health care, buildings across the skyline lit up in purple Sunday night as a tribute to the hospital's signature color.

Hundreds of community leaders were on hand this morning to dedicate the new Parkland Hospital.

Across Harry Hines Blvd. from the current medical center, new Parkland will add 862 beds with private rooms for each patient in what is the largest hospital construction project in America.

Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush sent video messages hailing the importance of the Parkland expansion.

Kathy Harper is a registered nurse who took on the additional role of overseeing the project to ensure that patients were at the heart of the decisions made to improve the facility.

"Every patient is what we're here for, and not creating spaces that were uninviting or uncomfortable or a bus station feel," says Harper. "I think that we really have created a space where every patient is equal, regardless."

The public will be able to tour the hospital at a community open house April 11. The new Parkland is scheduled to open to patients August 20.