Enhancing the inpatient experience with modern private rooms

The new orthopaedic and adult inpatient nursing units at St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville offer private patient rooms, modern conveniences and the latest technology for patients and the medical team.

"Patients deserve and expect modern and peaceful environments during their hospital stay," said Keith Jewell, senior vice president and chief operating officer, St. Francis Hospital & Health Centers. "Our new private patient rooms were designed with both patients and their family members in mind, as we know that the support of loved ones is critical during the recovery process."

Each inpatient room is equipped with two flat-screen televisions, a sofa that converts to a bed for an overnight guest, a desk and wireless Internet connectivity. Additionally, careful consideration was given to the views from patient rooms, and two large rooftop gardens are visible from many of the rooms to help promote a healing environment.

Physicians and medical staff have access to wireless communication technology and bedside charting for improved caregiver communication and efficiency. Patient care stations are located outside patient rooms in addition to centralized nursing stations, enabling physicians and nurses to perform their responsibilities closer to the patient.

The hospital’s current inpatient units will be converted into a convent for the Sisters of St. Francis. The building that formerly housed the hospital’s operating rooms will be demolished this summer to create additional parking for the new medical office building that is under construction.

Community Open House Set for April 19

Before St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville officially opens the doors to the hospital campus’ largest-ever expansion, community members are invited to a sneak preview community health event.

There is much to see inside the new, expansive inpatient building, including modern and private patient rooms and the most advanced surgery suite technology.

As a fun community health activity, guests will be given a pedometer when they arrive and will be asked to report back their number of steps taken during the event.

The event also includes:

• a coloring page prize drawing for children
• healthy snacks
• giveaways
• Cholesterol testing
• Blood pressure testing
• Height, weight and body mass index (BMI) screening
• Bone density testing
• Lymphoedema screening
• Proper hand washing
• Tai Chi demonstration
• Information on various other St. Francis services and programs

When: Saturday, April 19, 200811 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Where: New Main Lobby Gallery, St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville, 1201 Hadley Road

Cost: Free and open to the public; no reservation required

Coming together

Much progress is being made on our expansion construction as the April 21 opening date nears.

The terre cotta floor in the main atrium is now in place. Patient rooms are essentially completed, as are the new eight-bed Intensive Care Unit and the nursing stations. The six new operating suites are nearly complete, and much of the state-of-the-art equipment is in place. Furniture should be installed toward the end of this month.

The expanded campus, growing from 258,000 to about 400,000 square feet, includes new technology upgrades, high-tech surgery suites, spacious and private patient rooms and additional services that will enable the hospital to enhance overall patient care.

Get a sneak peak at the new facility on Saturday, April 19.
Join us for our grand opening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and see what we’ve been up to. Be among the first to take a tour of our new facility — and participate in the special events that will be taking place that day, including several free health screenings.

Key expansion highlights

• New 30-bed adult inpatient nursing unit dedicated exclusively to orthopaedic patients, featuring spacious, private rooms with scenic views.
• New 18-bed adult inpatient general nursing unit, also featuring private rooms.
• Modernized patient rooms accommodate wireless technology, bedside charting and other technology for improved caregiver communication and efficiency.
• Two flat-screen televisions in each patient room — one for the patient and one for visitors.
• Patient care stations for every four to six patient rooms, in addition to the centralized nursing center, enabling caregivers to be closer to the patient.
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the campus.
• Six new state-of-the-art operating room suites, equipped with video-conferencing capabilities, cameras for adding photo and video files to patients’ charts and a central sterilization department.
• New eight-bed Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
• New Emergency Department with more than a dozen rooms, including two trauma rooms, seven treatment rooms and a decontamination room (opening later in 2008).
• Expansion of the existing PromptMed urgent care center.
• New medical office building for the Center for Hip & Knee Surgery that will house physician offices, a new physical therapy department and other outpatient ancillary services.
• Expansion and complete renovation of Laboratory Services.
• Expanded respiratory therapy services.
• A three-story lobby and atrium that will include family waiting, coffee shop and gift shop.
• Large rooftop gardens visible from patient rooms and other areas of the expansion designed to create a calming, healing space for patients and visitors.