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Outpatient surgery unit gets facelift
The EMH Surgical Services Department has been in need of more room for some time now. "Our operating rooms themselves are not the problem, they have plenty of space and are well equipped. But there has never been a dedicated pre-op area and the current endoscopy room is very small," states Surgical Services Director Angela Johnson, R.N.
With the closing of the Women's Center, an opportunity for expansion became available. "Over the past few months, we have been turning our former delivery rooms into Endoscopy Suites, which gives us so much more needed space," Johnson said. Also, the former labor rooms which are conveniently located next to the delivery rooms will be used to get patients ready as well as fast track recovery to home.
All patients presenting for surgery will now report to the patient care area, formerly know as the Women Center. They will be placed in a private room pre-operatively to allow for more privacy and comfort for them and their family. Another positive change for surgical patient flow is the renovation that has taken place to allow for a connection between the two units that were once separated by a solid wall. There is now a connecting door that will provide patients with full privacy when being transported from one unit to another.
Another plus to having the added space on the new Outpatient Surgical Unit is an office designated for outpatient surgery work-ups to be done. Patients are required to come in a few days before surgery to complete an initial assessment and any necessary lab work and/or x-rays. One of the nurses from the Surgery Department, usually Pat Kellum, R.N., is responsible for performing all of these functions." In the past, these surgical work-ups were completed in an available room on the Acute Care Unit. And if census was high in the hospital, I would have to find another place to do work-ups. It's so much better to have an office," Kellum said.
The new Outpatient Surgical Unit has been completely repainted, new carpet has been placed in the hallways, new tile in the nurses' station area, and new window treatments are being hung." It looks like a brand new hospital wing," Johnson stated. "We are all so very proud of the area and are excited for the chance to share it with our patients!"
The Surgery Staff at Elbert Memorial Hospital is grateful to the EMH Foundation and the many donations they received which were designated for Outpatient Renovations.
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