Nursing Unit Renovation and Central Monitoring Room

In September 2009, Lankenau completed renovations to the nursing units on Pew 1 South and 1 Southwest. This was the first step in the planned conversion of all patient rooms from semi-private to private, utilizing evidence-based design—features that have been shown to enhance patient safety and comfort and promote healthy outcomes. The upgraded units use technology to increase physician and nurse access to patient information at the bedside, in corridors and at multiple points in the nursing pods, reducing the risk of errors and infection and improving workplace efficiency.

Features of the renovated nursing units include:

• Private patient rooms with individual bathrooms and showers to improve comfort and reduce infection. Natural light, individual air controls, and soothing colors and decor provide a more relaxing environment

• Greater access to technology to reduce risk of errors and increase efficiency: cart at every bedside for in-room charting; secure computer access in hallways for rounding physicians and staff

• Sinks and instrumentation in each room, and Avagard disinfectant and lab coat hangers outside each room, to reduce risk for infection  

• Individual medication box outside each patient room to reduce risk of errors

• Identical room orientation and layout to improve functionality and reduce the chance of errors

• Unit divided into three work pods with clear sight lines for observation, which allows nurses to work closer to their patients and reduces travel to main nurses' station

• Improved nurse call system and rubber flooring to reduce noise in unit for greater patient comfort

• No-touch access system at unit entrances to reduce risk of infection

• Alcoves for equipment to reduce the risk of hallway accidents and ease patient transport

• Quiet room for rounds and private exchange of patient information; teaching room for residents; private consult room with computer; spacious main nurses' station, physician station and staff lounge—to enhance communication and efficiency in patient care

Lankenau also built a new Central Monitoring Room from which specially-trained technicians can observe all telemetry beds throughout the hospital. Telemetry is technology that enables 24/7 remote monitoring of a patient's heart rhythm; in addition to in-room and on-unit observation, this ensures the highest level of patient safety and best outcomes.