Thursday, January 14, 2016
Lutheran's pint-sized patients can now get a perk previously reserved for adults: private rooms.
Lutheran Children's Hospital officials on Wednesday celebrated the completion of a $4 million project that remade 36 pediatric patient rooms and clustered them in one area on Lutheran Hospital's third floor.
The gathering also allowed the hospital to spotlight its expanded music therapy effort, which has grown from a volunteer arrangement with IPFW's music department into a program with a full-time, board-certified music therapist.
The eight-month renovation included relocating eight private pediatric intensive care rooms to the third floor from the second floor.
The other 28 pediatric rooms are also private, allowing parents and other family members to spend time with their sick children without disturbing other patients or families.
A future phase will add 15 more pediatric rooms, a hospital official said last May.
Brian Bauer, Lutheran Hospital's CEO, talked about the convenience of treating all pediatric inpatients on one floor. The hospital's pediatric emergency department, constructed in 2013, remains on the first floor.
The just-completed investment created a single, secure entry point to the children's hospital, which is an entity contained in Lutheran Hospital's walls. New nurses' stations, furniture, flooring, lighting, wall design, monitors and other equipment also were installed.
"This project represents our commitment to the growth of Lutheran Children's Hospital," Bauer said in a statement. "These colorful, yet very practical upgrades complement operational improvements that will positively influence the patients and family experience."
Family resource and conference rooms were created during the renovation project. Krista Peak, Lutheran Children's Hospital's executive director, expects those amenities will be well-received by parents, who requested them.
While planning the 16,000-square-foot project, hospital officials consulted doctors, nurses, other staff, parents and patients about what things would make their experience more pleasant.
As a result, renovated patient rooms include expanded family areas with a sleeper sofa, desk and convenient electrical outlets. The makeover also included installing flat-screen TVs and more visitor seating.
journalgazette.net
