St. Mary’s New Intensive Care Unit Coming Soon
The new ICU is 52% complete!
A stay in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital is very stressful for both the patient and their loved ones, but St. Mary’s Hospital is taking great measures to ensure the patient and family’s experience in nothing short of exceptional.
In August 2010, the hospital began construction on the new ICU with hopes of it being complete by December 2011. So far, the project is on schedule and the construction is 52% complete. St. Mary’s is hoping to admit their first patient to the new ICU by December 1st. The new unit will offer state-of-the-art medical technology and exceptional patient and family amenities.
The “family zone” in each room will have space for multiple members of a family to spend time with the recovering patient. A family member will also be able to comfortably stay overnight with their loved one.
“Patients recover better in an environment that offers exceptional care and is also calming to the senses and allows for their families to be close at hand,” said Bruce Merrell, President of St. Mary’s Hospital.
The staff at St. Mary’s Hospital knows a lot about quality and patient experience- in the past year the hospital has been nationally recognized three times for its outstanding patient experience and quality.
The new ICU will only improve that experience by offering industry leading technology. This includes medication dispensing units specific in each patient’s room, reducing the risk of medication error and making the patient’s medication more readily available. Decentralized nursing stations allow the caregiver to be closer to the patient. In addition, a new state-of-the-art cardiac monitoring system, along with top-of-the-line critical care beds, will be purchased for the new ICU.
The overall design of the new ICU will create a healing environment with colors and artwork that promote a sense of calm and serenity. Some of the aesthetics and technology of the new unit have come from donors who are community members, families of patients, employees and physicians.
“We are blessed to have friends in the community who believe in the mission of St. Mary’s Hospital and the exceptional services we provide,” said Scott Niermann, director of St. Mary’s Hospital Foundation. “With the help of faithful Foundation supporters, this new unit will include artwork and technological advancements that will help both patients and their families to recuperate and heal.”
The new ICU at St. Mary’s Hospital is just the latest example of why patients don’t need to travel hours out of state to receive comprehensive health care.
“ This unit is a testament to the kind of hospital St. Mary’s has worked so hard to be – a quality, state-of-the-art facility with world-class physicians and staff who care for patients as if they’re caring for their own family,” said Virginia Telford, vice president of patient care at St. Mary’s Hospital.