DMH Announces Three New Building Projects

Jan. 29, 2008 View Images

Plans are underway for three separate building projects at Decatur Memorial Hospital.

FIVE STORY PATIENT CARE TOWER

Patient rooms are taking on a whole new look at Decatur Memorial Hospital. A new five-story, 84,280 square foot patient care tower is planned to extend the hospital’s existing Staley Pavilion to the east that will add 70 private patient rooms. Each spacious patient room will be equipped with a sofa that converts to a pull-out bed for family members to spend the night in their loved one’s hospital room. Wireless internet access will also be available in each patient room along with a plasma screen television and enhanced state-of-the-art communication and media systems.

“Private patient rooms are a growing trend among hospitals throughout the nation,” said Ken Smithmier, President & CEO, Decatur Memorial Hospital. “Our patients are telling us that they prefer a private room. But, with our high patient volumes, we are currently unable to just remove a bed from our existing double occupancy patient rooms and convert those rooms to single occupancy. So, we need to build a new patient care tower with an additional 70 patient rooms, allowing DMH to incorporate private patient rooms throughout the entire hospital. With the new addition, the hospital will not exceed the current patient bed count.”

Private rooms have been proven to increase patient satisfaction and provide patients with more privacy, an opportunity to rest, and discuss their needs with family members and friends. Private rooms also reduce the risk of cross infection between patients in the same room and reduce the possibility of development of new infections.

“Private rooms help us meet the unique needs of each individual patient, eliminating the roommate factor in the hospital setting,” Smithmier said. “It’s all about making the patient’s stay as comfortable as possible.” The new patient care tower will also include a neuroscience unit, pediatric unit, inpatient pharmacy, community education center, Human Resource Department and a new hospital entrance and lobby. The $31 million project will take approximately two years to complete and requires a Certificate of Need from the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board.

CAFETERIA/FOOD PREPARATION

A new hospital cafeteria and kitchen will be added at the site of the current employee entrance on the hospital’s east side. The 22,000 square foot addition will include a new state-of-the-art kitchen designed especially for room service for patients and a dining room with skylights and glass atrium. The food court concept features different areas including a grill station, comfort foods, a special chef‘s display with prepared-to-order entrees and a self service hot and cold food bar. The dining room will seat 190 and will include two meeting rooms that can each accommodate 30 people and will feature a moveable wall opening up both meeting rooms to accommodate 60 people. The main dining area will also include a terrace for outside dining. More than 2,500 meals are served a day in the DMH Cafeteria. Construction will begin this spring on the $7 million project with a one year completion date.

ALL WEATHER CONNECTION

An all weather connection corridor is also planned between the main hospital and the General Services Building that sits on the corner of McKinley and Union streets. This $900,000 project will give employees located in the General Services Building better access to the hospital in inclement weather. This project should take approximately one year to complete after beginning this spring.

“Decatur Memorial Hospital continues to move forward in health care within Central Illinois with these new construction projects—building on the advancements that we have already made,” Smithmier said. “Through community support from donations and cash reserves, the hospital is fortunate that we are able to pay cash for the three new construction projects.”

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