The excitement was certainly “building” at CalvertHealth Medical Center. After nearly two years of construction for Phase I of the hospital’s $51-million expansion and renovation project, the main entrance and new patient tower were opened to patients and visitors on July 1.
After months of detailed planning, patients were moved to private patient rooms, beginning with Level 3 which houses the majority of the hospital’s surgical patients. Chief Nursing Office Diane Couchman said, “It was an incredibly coordinated effort requiring the assistance of many departments and clinicians. We have a great team here and seeing how positively the patients are responding to the new rooms is very rewarding.”
And respond positively, they did. Each new, all-private room is equipped with a
Centrella™ Smart+Bed, a large window to let in natural light, a 49-inch flat-screen TV, a safe in the closet and a sleeper bed which family members can rest in while supporting the patient’s healing process. “From the initial design to the final furnishings, every decision was thoughtfully considered with the patient’s well-being in mind,” said President and CEO Dean Teague. He also reiterated that the hospital was not proposing any increase to patient charges related to the project.
Alice Henson of St. Leonard, a thirty year Calvert County resident, was the first patient to enjoy the new patient room. She commented on the growth of CalvertHealth during her time in Calvert and commended the medical center for bringing much needed resources to the county. “My surgeon is one of the best in the nation and the fact that I was able to see him here in Calvert County is just amazing,” said Henson. She was referencing Dr. Jean-Marc Voyadzis who is co-director of the Center for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery at MedStar Georgetown and practices regularly at the medical center. Dr. Voyadzis has been seeing patients and performing surgery at CalvertHealth since 2007 as part of a clinical alliance. That partnership is one of many allowing Calvert to bring expert care close to home.
Patient Sue Redshaw of Port Republic said, “When you’re sick, you really want quiet and privacy and this new space gives patients that.” As an added benefit, Redshaw was excited the rooms were large enough for patients requiring post-operative physical therapy could, for the most part, rehab in their room instead of moving to a secondary location.
Level 3 Director Karen Gromacki, RN, BSN said one of the greatest benefits of the new space, in addition to the natural light and modern feel, is the privacy granted to the patients during multidisciplinary bedside rounding. “Multidisciplinary rounding is the standard of care for patient centered care. This structure provides increased communication between the caregivers, the patient and their families. Effective and efficient communication among its members is invaluable for the delivery of quality patient care, and allows the patient to participate in that care. The new patient rooms allow the team to do this at bedside so that patients can be part of that conversation – and the discussions are now conducted in a much more private atmosphere.”
Nurse Valerie Pasch agreed that in addition to patient privacy and a better workflow, the size of each new room is definitely a plus. “On Level 3 we see a lot of orthopedic surgical patients and this new space allows for more movement for both the patient and the care team,” said Pasch. The design of each room allows patients easier access to almost everything including the bathroom.
In addition to the new patient rooms on Levels 2 and 3, the main lobby also received a new, modern look and feel. The Calvert Espresso Bar, Gift Shop and Chapel have all been moved back to the main lobby area.
Phase II, to convert existing patient rooms on Levels 2 and 3 will begin in the coming weeks and is expected to be complete early 2020.
For more information on the expansion and renovation project, visit
CalvertHealthMedicine.org.
Alice Henson of St. Leonard was the first patient to be moved over to the new patient tower. “Welcome” gifts were provided to the first ten patients who were moved.
Chief Nursing Officer Diane Couchman (far left) and Level 3 Director Karen Gromacki (far right) stand with members of the Level 3 team, as well as employees and volunteers from the Registration and Patient & Family Services departments, as they work together to move patients over to the new patient tower.
The renovated medical center lobby now boasts more space and enhanced privacy as well as The Calvert Espresso Bar, Gift Shop and Chapel.