Patients arriving at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus emergency department this morning were the first to experience newly remodeled rooms that were carefully designed to provide maximum efficiency in patient care.
A newly remodeled patient room in the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Emergency Department.
Thirty beds across two units have been updated with the financial support of the Sam H. and Maria Miller Family Foundation, marking the first renovations to the main campus emergency department since it opened in 1994. The project cost approximately $4.8 million.
“These improvements were long past due,” said Bradford Borden, M.D., chairman of the Emergency Services Institute at Cleveland Clinic. “By improving efficiency and collaboration throughout the unit, we will be able to deliver even better patient care and increase caregiver satisfaction. We are extremely grateful to the Miller family for making this possible.”
The work was completed in several phases, with 12 patient rooms being completed in May and 18 more just completed. A ribbon-cutting was held to mark the completion on Sept. 7.
Although the layout of the unit remains the same, patient rooms were redesigned to be more functional and efficient. For example, sinks were previously located on the back wall of most rooms, often behind beds, making it awkward for caregivers and patients to access them. All rooms now have sinks located at their entrance. Updated cabinetry, staff workstations and more medical utilities, such as oxygen, were added to all rooms as well. Fresh paint provides extra brightness.
Also, rooms are now private except for one of the three trauma/resuscitation rooms, which can accommodate two patients at once. Previously, some rooms were divided only by a curtain. Three rooms have been updated with the latest capabilities to keep patients with behavioral health concerns safe while they are in the unit.
The central area of the unit was reorganized to provide greater visibility for caregivers to monitor patients and to facilitate collaboration and improved teaching of medical residents. Efficient LED lighting was installed throughout the unit, and an improved dispensing room was created to increase ease of caregiver access to medications.