CentraState’s new Critical Care/Step Down Unit offers the latest in critical care medicine and technology. The $15-million unit was launched this fall during a "lights up" ceremony." Health system officials unveiled the $15-million unit by "lighting up" the electronic glass (e-glass) that surrounds each private patient room, turning the e-glass from opaque to clear in an instant, by the flick of switch.
"This new unit represents our absolute dedication to defining healthcare excellence, and is a truly special facility," John T. Gribbin, FACHE, president and CEO, CentraState Healthcare System, says. "It is state-of-the-art in its design, and equipped with technology from the leading edge of critical care medicine."
The CCU features a design that offers more space for staff, more privacy for patients, more comfort for families and improved infection control. The new unit is more than 18,000 square feet, compared to less than 4,000 square feet for the old unit. The unit has increased from 15 to 26 beds, which can be doubled up in the event of an emergency such as a pandemic or mass casualty incident. With the elimination of cubicle curtains, which can collect germs, the e-glass plays an important role in infection control, as well as for patient privacy. Each room is equipped with ceiling-mounted medical booms—which contain all the essentials such as oxygen, air, suction and power—to save space, maximize workflow and allow for optimal patient care.
"Being in the hospital is hard enough. Being in the CCU can be especially tough," John DeTullio, MD, medical director, Critical Care, says. "The advanced capabilities of this unit, combined with the talented and compassionate staff we already have in place, puts CentraState in another league in critical care."
The CCU multidisciplinary team consisting of physicians and nurses played an active role in developing the design and worked closely with architects and design professionals, and medical center administration, to create an environment as comfortable and tranquil as possible for patients and their families. Natural design elements including wood-tone floors, leaf and branch designs and green colors were incorporated to help create a soothing environment. In addition, each room provides internet access, comfortable seating, a large flat-screen TV, and a private bathroom.
The CCU also features a new patient care model with individual nursing stations for every two beds. "It’s more efficient for the nurse and better for patient care. It’s also better psychologically to know that the nurse is close at hand," Linda Geisler, RN, vice president, Patient Care Services, says. "It eases the patient’s anxiety and that of their families, and promotes better communication all around. It’s just another example of how we strive to promote patient-centered care at CentraState in every action and with every detail."
CentraState continues to invest in the latest healthcare technologies to provide patients with effective, efficient and high-quality care. "This CCU is CentraState’s latest step in a journey of careful growth and evolution to best serve our region," Ruben Cardona, CPA, chairman, CentraState Healthcare System Board of Trustees, says. The new CCU continues a period of unprecedented growth and expansion at CentraState, and marks the seventh major expansion of services to the community in the past nine years. It also represents the largest construction project of a hospital inpatient unit since the construction of its bed tower in 1993.
