Sanatorio Anchorena

Abandoned and silent. That’s how the Sanatorio Anchorena stood for over three years. A ghostly presence on the prominent corner of Pueyrredón and Peña. The Sanatorio Anchorena, once a leading medical institution in Buenos Aires, had fallen victim to the economic turmoil of the 1990s. Its doors, which first opened in the 1940s, closed around the year 2000. The Sanatorio Anchorena had been a pioneer, boasting cutting-edge medical technology and renowned professionalism. But financial hardship forced it into bankruptcy, leaving behind a decaying shell. In late 2003, the Unión Personal Civil de la Nación (UPCN), a trade union, acquired the dilapidated building. Many doubted their ability to resurrect the Sanatorio Anchorena. Some even scoffed, expecting the prime real estate to become another construction project. But UPCN had a different vision. They embarked on a massive reconstruction, transforming the neglected space. This endeavor culminated in late 2007, and the reborn Sanatorio Anchorena reopened its doors in May 2008. Today, the Sanatorio Anchorena spans an impressive 16,000 square meters. It boasts eight spacious, modern floors, served by fourteen elevators. These elevators cater separately to patients, the public, and staff. The Sanatorio Anchorena was reimagined as an intelligent building. Its design emphasizes easy maintenance and hygiene. It also optimizes energy consumption and incorporates soundproofing. A computerized system handles fire detection and equipment monitoring, ensuring safety and efficiency. Medically, the Sanatorio Anchorena functions as a comprehensive emergency and inpatient center. It handles everything from simple outpatient consultations to sophisticated organ transplants. Its 24/7 emergency room provides active coverage in various specialties. These specialties include clinical medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, traumatology, general surgery, gynecology, and obstetrics. The Sanatorio Anchorena features a fully equipped laboratory with automated equipment. It also houses a state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging center. This center utilizes cutting-edge technologies like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT), nuclear medicine with a gamma camera, and various ultrasound modalities. Interventional procedures like cardiac catheterizations and arteriographies are performed in two cutting-edge hemodynamics rooms. Patient comfort is paramount at the Sanatorio Anchorena. All rooms are private, equipped with individual climate control, LCD TVs, and high-end electric beds. Each room also includes a sofa bed for companions. The obstetrics center is particularly noteworthy. It features two delivery rooms, two C-section rooms, and two rooms designed for “home or family births”. The neonatology unit is equipped with eighteen incubators, two bassinets, phototherapy equipment, and a high-complexity isolation room for post-surgical recovery. Six technologically advanced operating rooms cater to a wide range of surgical interventions, both outpatient and inpatient. The Sanatorio Anchorena also dedicates sixty of its 193 beds to high-complexity medical care. This encompasses adult intensive care, a coronary unit, cardiovascular surgery recovery, pediatric intensive care, and the neonatology unit. A dedicated hospitality and food service department rounds out the Sanatorio Anchorena’s offerings. They ensure patient comfort, proper nutrition, and meticulous cleanliness throughout the facility. The Sanatorio Anchorena’s journey from ruin to revival is a testament to UPCN’s vision and dedication. It’s a story of transformation, innovation, and a commitment to providing high-quality healthcare to the community.