Emerson Hospital Transforms Patient Care Unit with Upgrades to Technology, Privacy and Comfort

Warm, personalized care has been the hallmark of Emerson Hospital for more than 100 years. This tradition continues with recently completed renovations to one of the hospital’s major patient floors, Wheeler 5, where cardiac patients benefit from upgraded technology, improved safety and enhanced privacy and comfort.

“From our initial planning meetings, we agreed that one concept would shape everything: what was best for the patient,” said Joyce Welsh, vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. “We all are very pleased with the result.”

The remodeled unit features a state-of-the-art telemetry system for cardiac patients, who must be monitored to ensure their heart function is stable. The new system, which has been expanded to Emerson’s three medical-surgical units, captures patient history – including heart rhythm and vital signs – over 24 hours, which allows the medical staff to better assess trends and detect irregularities. It also features a sophisticated alarm system that alerts the physician when a patient is experiencing a problem.

In addition to advanced heart monitoring capabilities, design upgrades include a redesigned nurses station to reduce noise on the unit, along with an enhanced phone system which provides specific alerts when, for example, a patient who is at risk for falling gets out of bed. A new “quiet” area with eight workstations provides visual access to cardiac monitors, while allowing physicians to dictate patient notes, complete medication orders and consult with other staff members.

An enlarged medication room is now located in a central spot on the unit, allowing efficient access to routine medications. A separate area enables medical staff to focus on preparing medications such as IV bags without interruption, one of the most common causes of medical errors. The enlarged patient rooms are painted in soft colors with mahogany finishes, featuring pleasant views and flexibility for conversion into private rooms.

Christine Schuster, president and CEO of Emerson, expressed her appreciation to patients and staff for their patience during the previous months of construction leading to the transformation of Wheeler 5.

“I want to thank everyone who helped us design and build such a beautiful and efficient unit,” she said. “The myriad of enhanced amenities for patients and families will be appreciated for many years to come.”