A larger capacity, private rooms, new monitoring equipment and a brighter appearance are just some of the features of the newly renovated Emergency Department at Forest Park Hospital.
The renovation project began in July and utilized space formerly occupied by a clinic that served obstetrics and other patients. A Women�s Health Center was opened on the seventh floor to accommodate the OB patients, while the MediCenter on the first floor serves patients with a variety of medical conditions.
The project expanded the department from 5100 to 8200 square feet and from 8 to 18 patient rooms � all private. (The department formerly could accommodate 13 patients.) Each room has new cardiac monitoring equipment, a television and a new call light system.
�We can offer patients more privacy, both auditory and visual,� said Dianne Ceriotti, RN, patient care manager of the Emergency Department. �It also makes it easier for us to allow family members to come back with the patient.�
New flooring, wall covering and lighting give the department a brighter appearance. A second nurses station and workstations were also added to the department.