Community Hospital South: Floor by floor

Expanding to serve the needs of a growing population

Community Hospital South's 194,000-square-foot, $130 million expansion project brings the hospital to a total of nearly 406,000 square feet and adds 50 patient rooms for a total of 150 all-private rooms. The expansion positions Community South, which saw a 20 percent increase in inpatient volumes over the past two years, ahead of the curve in meeting the needs of the communities it serves—southern Marion County, Johnson County and Morgan County.

First floor

Just inside the main lobby, greeters at a central information desk will provide general information and directions; patients can be assured they will end up at the right place, at the right time.

Seven conference rooms and meeting rooms where public education classes will be held are located off the main lobby, along with an expanded gift shop. Outpatient programs such as blood draw and EKG testing are consolidated toward the front of the patient tower for ease of access and convenience. The first floor of the patient tower also includes an expanded outpatient observation/infusion unit, a new dining area and three public elevators that lead to patient rooms.

The first-floor space in the existing hospital houses the imaging suites and six new state-of-the-art surgery suites equipped with the latest technology.

Second floor

A 24-bed progressive care unit is located on the second floor of the new patient tower. As with the third and fourth floor, there is a separate waiting area for families of patients that contains a kitchenette an TV so families don't have to wait in the public lobby.

Natural light from large windows at the end of each corridor make the hallways leading to the patient rooms more inviting, while the curvature of the building breaks the line of sight, enhancing patients' privacy.

Patient rooms

All patient rooms are private rooms, a response to requests from patients, staff and physicians alike. Private rooms are quiet, decrease the need to move patients and encourage more open and meaningful conversation between patients, families and health care providers—allowing more coordinated care.

"While the patients wanted private rooms for the privacy, the staff wanted private rooms for infection control and confidentiality issues," said Mitchell Breeze, facilities director for Community South. "We spent a lot of time designing the patient rooms with the patient in mind."

Bathrooms are placed in close proximity to the patient bed, with a handrail connecting them to minimize the risk of falls. An abundance of natural light, soothing earth-tone colors and ambient sound promote the healing process.

The spacious rooms include a separate area for the family, complete with a second TV and sleep sofa so family members can spend the night if they want. "It will be a more serene, calming and restful inpatient experience," said Tony Lennen, president of Community Hospital South.

Decentralized nursing stations are located outside each room for more attentive, personalized care.

The second floor of the existing hospital will be built out in fall 2010, and will contain a new 12-bed intensive care unit and a 19-bed medical unit.

Third floor

This floor of the new patient tower houses the Center for Joint Health, which includes 21 private rooms and a large activity/physical therapy room. The general ortho/neuro/spine unit is also nearby.

The third floor of the existing building contains additional hospital rooms.

Fourth floor

On the patient tower side, 24 rooms are reserved specifically for use by post-surgery patients. "We did this for infection control, and also the nursing staff on that unit specialize in helping recovering surgical patients," Breeze said.

The existing hospital building houses 16 totally renovated maternity suites and a new level two nursery. New parents benefit from the use of labor-delivery-recovery-postpartum (LDRP) rooms—there's no need to move to a different room after the baby is born.

Fifth floor

This as-yet undeveloped space will allow the addition of up to 24 patient rooms when they are needed, bringing the total number of beds to 74.