Frequently Asked Questions from May Employee Forum
RUHS leadership gave team members updates on several changes happening at the Medical Center, including a planned expansion project and the reassignment of some hospital beds to better meet the needs of patients during a May 21 employee forum.
Employees had some questions on these topics and we’ve answered those here in this labeled FAQ list.
Thank you to everyone who attended the forum for your interest and your questions.
Wellness Center
Q: What age groups will the Wellness Center serve?
A: The Wellness Center is being designed to provide inpatient behavioral health services for children, adolescents, and adults. Dedicated units will serve:
Children under age 12
Adolescents
Adults Placement and treatment needs will continue to be evaluated based on each individual’s clinical circumstances.
Q: What community feedback has the Wellness Center received?
A: The Wellness Center project has been presented during multiple community forums and informational meetings. Overall feedback has been largely positive, with many recognizing the growing need for additional behavioral health services and inpatient behavioral health beds within Riverside County.
Q: What security measures will be in place at the Wellness Center and throughout the expanded campus?
A: Dedicated Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies currently assigned to the behavioral health facility are expected to continue supporting the Wellness Center after relocation to the Moreno Valley campus. Security guards will also continue working at the facility, consistent with current operations.
Additional campus-wide security enhancements are planned to include:
Security cameras
Well-lit parking areas
Emergency phones
Routine security patrols throughout the campus
Medical Office Building (MOB)
Q: What departments or clinics are planned for the Medical Office Building (MOB)?
A: The MOB is planned to support outpatient specialty clinic services and consolidate or relocate services into a more modern, accessible space. Clinics currently planned include:
Ophthalmology
Palliative Care/Geriatrics
Pulmonology
Cardiology
Neurology
Pain
Audiology
ENT
Urology
Dermatology
Hepatology
• Gastroenterology
Q: Will there be conference rooms in the MOB?
A: Yes. Four conference rooms are planned:
Two first-floor conference rooms that can combine to accommodate approximately 80 people
Two second-floor conference rooms accommodating approximately 16 people each
Q: Will there be food service options, cafés, or cafeteria expansions in the new buildings?
A: The Wellness Center is planned to include a cafeteria available for staff use. The MOB does not currently include plans for a dedicated coffee shop or full food service operation, though additional food purchasing options may still be explored. Campus cafeteria expansion and additional food service enhancements may also be evaluated separately as the campus grows.
Q: Will the new buildings include sustainability features such as solar panels or EV charging?
A: Yes. The new Medical Office Building will include solar panels and is being designed to meet LEED Silver certification standards. Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations are also planned for all new buildings.
Parking, Access, and Infrastructure
Q: Are there plans for additional parking or new campus entrances?
A: A parking structure has been discussed as a potential future need but is not included in this phase of the project. Parking needs, including shade and heat relief, continue to be considered as part of broader campus planning. In addition, Brodiaea Avenue will be extended through the length of the campus to improve:
Traffic flow
Ambulance access
Delivery of materials and services
This roadway is intended to improve circulation for emergency vehicles, vendors, staff, and visitors. Project Timeline and Other Campus Questions
Q: What is the anticipated construction timeline for the campus expansion?
A: The final construction sequence depends on design completion, permitting, regulatory approvals, and construction coordination. Current projections include:
Ground preparation for the Wellness Center and MOB beginning in late 2026
Ground preparation for the Emergency Department expansion beginning in early 2027
Completion of all major expansion projects anticipated between mid- and late-2029
Q: Are there plans to relocate Mission Grove staff or renovate the CPC building?
A: A final relocation plan for Mission Grove staff has not yet been confirmed. The CPC building is not part of the current RUHS campus expansion projects.
Women’s and Children’s Center Bed Utilization and Reassignment
Q: What changes is RUHS Medical Center making in the Women’s and Children’s Departments?
A: Riverside University Health System – Medical Center is optimizing its inpatient care environment through the creation of a dedicated Women’s and Children’s Wing, designed to bring together specialized services for women, infants, children, and families in a centralized location. As part of this transition, the existing OB/Postpartum Unit will be repurposed as a Medical Surgical Unit, expanding adult inpatient capacity and supporting the Medical Center’s continued commitment to meeting the healthcare needs of the growing community. The Women’s and Children’s Wing will include:
16 OB/Postpartum beds
8 Pediatric beds
4 Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) beds
The hospital will continue operating all 439 licensed beds, and no beds are being eliminated.
Q: Why is RUHS making these changes, and how will patients benefit?
A: The decision follows a comprehensive review of inpatient bed utilization and patient demand across the county. Adult Medical-Surgical units are currently experiencing consistent, high demand for bed space. Conversely, the Pediatrics, PICU, and Obstetric (OB) departments routinely operate with extra available capacity well above current patient volumes. To address this imbalance, RUHS Medical Center will reassign a portion of these underutilized beds to the adult Medical-Surgical units. This shift optimizes our existing facility footprint and ensures resources directly match community healthcare needs. This strategic adjustment will not reduce care quality, as all pediatric and obstetric services will remain fully operational. RUHS remains committed to providing high-quality care to women, children, and families throughout the region.
Q: What data was reviewed to support this decision? A: RUHS routinely monitors hospital bed utilization over multiple years to evaluate long-term trends in patient volume and occupancy patterns. The analysis for Med-Surg, Pediatrics, PICU, and OB used 7 a.m. census data from every day of 2025. Findings demonstrated that Pediatrics, PICU, and OB continue to provide essential services and effectively respond to periodic surges in patient volume, while Med-Surg units consistently operated at or near capacity. Staffing levels in Pediatrics, PICU, and OB remain appropriately aligned to meet patient care needs during fluctuations in volume.
Q: Will Pediatrics, OB, and PICU services continue at RUHS?
A: Yes. Services in Pediatrics, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and OB will continue as they currently operate, with no change to the level of care or types of patients served. RUHS will continue responding to fluctuating patient surges, and children presenting through the Emergency Department will continue to be evaluated, stabilized, and placed through existing escalation and placement processes when needed. OB is also expected to continue current practices for satellite nursery use and boarder baby care within the OB designated unit.
Q: How will the new Women’s and Children’s Center support patient care?
A: The consolidated Women’s and Children’s Wing is intended to support coordinated, familycentered care by bringing Pediatric, PICU, and OB/Postpartum services together within one dedicated area. The design also preserves flexibility to respond to changing patient volumes and operational needs.
Q: Will these changes affect staffing or employee roles?
A: No workforce reductions are planned as part of this transition. Current core staffing aligns with the proposed future bed count, and the changes are intended to better align assigned beds with actual daily census by patient type. Pediatric nurses will continue floating for pediatric patients as needed and will not be required to float to Med-Surg units, although they may volunteer to do so. OB nurses will continue providing specialized OB care within the new Women’s and Children’s Wing. The current plan includes one shared break room and locker area for staff working within the new Center.
Q: What construction work will be completed as part of the reconfiguration?
A: Construction on Unit 3400, the current Pediatrics/PICU unit, will occur in phases to help maintain ongoing patient care operations. Planned work includes:
Installing three doors to separate newly created units
Relocating the playroom
Converting the current playroom into a pediatric patient room
Remodeling one patient room to become ADA and isolation compliant
Replacing PICU swing-out toilets with enclosed bathrooms in the rooms that will transition into pediatric rooms
The Pediatric unit will have one designated playroom. Rooms shown near the playroom on planning maps are patient rooms, not additional playroom spaces.
Q: When will construction and transitions occur?
A: Construction work, including design and approvals, is expected to begin in early Summer 2026, with completion targeted for mid-2027. Following construction, the Women’s and Children’s Wing will be finalized and bed and work locations will transition at that time.
Q: How will RUHS respond to future community growth and patient demand?
A: Community growth is expected across the region, including among families and children. Current inpatient utilization trends show greater demand for adult Medical Surgical beds, while Pediatrics, PICU, and OB have experienced lower average occupancy. This plan balances current demand while preserving Maternal Child and Pediatric services and maintaining flexibility for future patient care needs.
Q: Will RUHS continue its commitment to women’s and children’s healthcare?
A: Yes. RUHS remains steadfastly committed to delivering exceptional care to women, children, and families throughout the community. 3