Palos 20/20: A Vision for the Future of Health Care in Our Community
Palos Community Hospital, the health care leader in the southwest suburbs, is investing $420 million in the health of the community through the construction of updated surgical and intensive care units, and the conversion to all private rooms. The six-year project will be completed in two phases. With construction beginning in the summer of 2010, state-of-the-art surgical and intensive care suites will replace those built more than 25 years ago. A new Center for Short Stay Care will provide convenient access to outpatient services, while the construction of new private patient rooms will enhance patient comfort and care. The project's second phase will transform existing patient rooms from semi-private to private and integrate the latest advances in health care.
Private patient rooms, integrated procedure services and the Center for Short Stay Care are the cornerstones of Palos 20/20.
Private Patient Rooms
Because of the documented success of our Cardiovascular
Unit's nursing pods, which put nurses within eyesight of patients at all
times, Palos will incorporate a variation of the concept on all
inpatient floors. In addition, all 306 newly constructed and fully
refurbished private patient rooms will include
additional equipment and storage space for necessary supplies, which can
be hidden when not in use. Private rooms will offer greater privacy for
the delivery of bedside treatments and for family members so they can
be more involved in the healing process.
Soothing room décor, advanced technology and quick access to care
will help further reduce infections and enable physicians, nurses and
other health care providers to deliver the most effective care possible.
One of the most important benefits will be our ability to maintain our
already low infection rates. Studies also have shown that private rooms
are therapeutic, comfortable and efficient. The quiet environment can
improve not only blood pressure and heart rate but also quality of sleep
and pain management.
Fully Integrated Services
Perhaps the most exciting aspect of Palos 20/20 is the integrated
surgical and procedure services area and the Center for Short Stay Care
(CSSC). Integrated procedure services will be located on the first floor
of the new addition, and will combine surgery, interventional radiology
and gastrointestinal/endoscopy procedures in a single functionally and
physically integrated space. Twelve state-of-the-art operating suites
are the highlight of the new space. Each one will be large enough to
house all of the necessary equipment to perform a variety of inpatient
and outpatient procedures, which will eliminate the need and wait for
specialty rooms. The surgical area also will include four endoscopy
suites, a minor surgery room and an interventional radiology suite.
The design of the new integrated procedure services area will improve
efficiency for both patients and staff. Patients will experience
a relaxed and seamless process, and those who accompany them will be
comforted by not only the new surroundings but our automated patient
tracking system. Spacious operating rooms will be equipped
with state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, integrated technologies, and
improved lighting.
Center for Short Stay Care
For each service provided in the integrated procedure services area,
patients will use the adjacent Center for Short Stay Care (CSSC) for
procedure preparation and outpatient recovery. The CSSC is an innovative
concept in hospital care. Both inpatients and outpatients will receive
pre-procedure care within the area. Outpatients will then transfer back
to the CSSC from either the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) or their
procedure room, and will remain in Short Stay until they are ready to go
home. Inpatients will transfer to a private patient room. New tracking
technology will enable you to follow patients through the entire process
so families can be updated on an ongoing basis.
The CSSC will provide a more efficient, comfortable and seamless
model of care for both patients and their families. It offers a single
point of entry for all patients undergoing any invasive procedure,
whether it's a surgical, interventional radiology or endoscopy
procedure. In a fast-paced and technologically advanced environment, the
CSSC will provide a calm and accommodating atmosphere that will be more
conducive to the healing process.
