Patient spaces at St. Marys Memorial Hospital are now safer and more accessible.
The Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) announced the completion of a multi-year project to transform patient care areas this week.
The Patient Room Rebuild Project focused on accessibility, infection control, safety, and the overall patient experience. It included improvements such as barrier-free washrooms, wider doorways, and upgraded lighting with patient-controlled options. New handwashing stations, an isolation room, and separated clean and soiled utility areas were also created to maintain high standards of infection prevention and staff efficiency.
To increase space and maneuverability within the existing footprint of patient rooms, as well as improve heating and cooling, the hospital moved radiators to the ceiling.
"This renovation isn't just a milestone," said Lynanne Mason, Vice President Partnerships, Transformation and Chief Nursing Executive. "It's a reflection of a community that stands behind its hospital, and of a hospital that is committed to delivering care that meets the needs of today and is ready for tomorrow."
The renovations and upgrades were completed due to efforts from the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation, donors, and community members.
"This project reflects the power of collaboration," Mason said.
Reopening after the renovations is set for next week.
Mason says a major upgrade is the bathrooms, which patients said were very small and a barrier prior to the project.
"The upgrades to our bathrooms, they're now barrier-free, the doorways are so much wider and they have a safety feature now where we can open them both ways. So if we need to get in quickly we can get in and help our patients within that environment," Mason explained.
Another key new feature is the lighting set up.
"Many older buildings, it can appear dark sometimes, but the new lighting is just phenomenal, and a lot of it is natural light which is great. That really contributes to the healing of our patients in that environment. Also, the patient's can control the lighting," Mason pointed out.
While patient comfort was top of mind, the renovations also feature quality of life improvements for staff.
"It's amazing that this new upgrade has patient lifts at every single bedside within the ceiling. Some of them even go right into the bathroom, so there's less transitions for the patients and needing to go between equipment," said Mason.
Mason adds the collaboration to make the upgrades happen was tremendous, with the fundraising campaign pulling in over $3 million. The final costs for the project will fall somewhere between $4-$5 million, and the new patient care areas will officially open next week.
-With files from Ryan Drury