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Wednesday, 17 June 2009 |
Mount Carmel Hospital holds open house for completed expansion project
BY SOPHIA ALDOUS
S-E Staff Reporter
A sense of accomplishment and a spirit of gratitude and joy marked last Sunday’s Grand Opening of Providence Mount Carmel Hospital. Speeches and a dedication ceremony, complete with a blessing by Father Peter Amah of the Immaculate Conception Church of Colville, marked the occasion.
“This day is a blessing,” said Bob Campbell President of Providence Mount Carmel Hospital. “I’m so thankful that we are here to celebrate this wonderful new hospital, and that all of you are here to help us celebrate it.”
Construction of the 70,000 square foot, two-level facility began in spring of 2007. The new building remedies some significant problems in the current 55-year-old building like electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning.
In addition, the project will provide an in¬crease in patient safety, com¬fort and privacy. Other issues the project has tackled are pa¬tient transport, efficiency of patient care, mandated regu¬latory issues and various changes to im¬prove physician and staff roles for patient care.
“Our new hospital will im¬prove patient flow, allow for patient, physician, and staff satisfaction by providing the tools and space needed to keep patients comfortable, provide more privacy and al¬low for future growth,” said Campbell.
Diagnostic Imaging has added patient care space that will allow for more privacy and improved services. Addition¬ally, in the future there will be a second ultrasound room and an MRI suite.
New and improved
In Obstetrics’, there are deliv¬ery rooms with updated equip¬ment in each room, such as jetted Jacuzzi tubs for the comfort of the new mothers. The new rooms have a homey feel; providing a relaxing and private atmosphere through¬out the birthing process.
The Acute Care Unit has 25 new, large, private rooms with all the new amenities and the latest monitoring equipment available. Included are large window areas and private baths. In addition, there is new safety equipment such as lifts for the safety of patients and staff. There are multiple quiet rooms for visitors to re¬lax in and speak with family members and friends.
There is additional work space for nursing staff to bet¬ter al¬low them to provide quality care and a private lunch room and locker room to assist in meeting the nurse’s personal needs while at work. And physicians have larger dicta¬tion areas to assist them in their ability to provide quality individual care.
According to Lori Johann¬sen-Fogle of Providence Mount Carmel Marketing and Com¬munications, the new building also offers more phlebotomy rooms, allowing for more effi¬ciency and shorter wait times for outpatients. Due to the proximity to the enlarged Emergency Department, the staff is able to maintain rapid turnaround times for patient lab work.
“Likewise, they are located di¬rectly below the ACU and CCU, which enhances their ability to serve patients in those units,” said Johannsen-Fogle.
The total cost of the project was $34 million.
As for the old hospital build¬ing, Johannsen-Fogle said the Providence Mount Carmel Board is planning to utilize the space, though it’s desig¬nated purpose has yet to be decided.
“There really are too many people to thank,” said Camp¬bell. “But we want to say thank you to them, nonetheless. Without the support of the community, area busi¬nesses and concerned indi¬viduals, this would not have come to pass. We are truly fortunate.”
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 24 June 2009 )
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