October 4, 2007

Mercy Gives Patient Care Areas a Major Makeover

Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City is engaged in a major effort to create an enhanced, more contemporary environment of care by making many aesthetic and functional improvements in the hospital’s patient care units.

The massive renovation, which has been underway for several months, should be completed next summer. Work in two patient care areas is already done, and similar efforts will continue in two other units.

“In what is a significant floor to ceiling upgrade of our facilities, we are creating a more homelike atmosphere for our patients and their families,” explained Frank Forneris, Director of Facilities for Mercy. “We are really improving the aesthetics in patient rooms by incorporating more wood, new textured wall coverings, and solid surface sinks and countertops.”

“We are also adding new window valances and privacy curtains in the rooms along with new recliners, bedside sling chairs, bedside tables and overbed tables,” Forneris added. “There are also more cabinets for patients’ personal belongings.”

The bathrooms in remodeled patient care rooms now offer shower seats and hand-held showers.
As an added convenience, patients can now control the lighting in their room from their bed.

Paul Bernard, who supervises construction for Mercy’s Facilities Department, said there are noticeable improvements at the nurses stations and in the hallways of the newly transformed patient care areas.

“We have created alcoves for the many computers used to maintain patients’ electronic medical records,” he explained. “That has really reduced hallway clutter.”
“We have also redesigned nurses stations for better patient access and handicap accessibility,” Bernard added.

Throughout patient care areas, electrical outlets are also being moved higher on the walls for easier access by staff members.

Construction crews at Mercy have also completely renovated galley areas where staff members prepare snacks, light meals and beverages for patients.

Expanded staff break rooms were also established with larger, more contemporary kitchen areas, and a computer workstation.

Forneris said an added benefit from the makeover is improved wayfinding for patients, their families and visitors.

“Distinct color schemes for each patient care wing helps to point people in the right direction,” he said. “As soon as they get off the elevator, they recognize the unit’s unique color scheme and know which way to go.”

Forneris and Bernard also note that some of the improvements made in patient care rooms further enhance Mercy’s already stringent infection control practices.

“We are getting rid of laminate countertops because over time they crack or can be compromised by water and daily cleaning,” Bernard said. “We are installing solid surface sinks, vanity tops and countertops because they give us a more durable, one-piece surface that lends itself to better cleaning.”

“For the same reasons, we’ve replaced surfaces in the galleys with solid stainless steel,” he added.
According to Forneris, even more exciting upgrades are in the works for the future.

“We always seek to continually improve the patient care experience at Mercy,” he said. “We also want to maintain a nice atmosphere for families and visitors, and a pleasant, highly functional work environment for physicians, nurses and staff members.”

“At Mercy, we view the current makeover and other upgrades to follow as part of our effort to make a great hospital even better.”