With the coordinated colors, sconce lighting and spacious rooms, the newly designed fifth floor at St. James Healthcare bears a greater resemblance to a hotel than a hospital.
“The colors are so different. I love the carpets. You don’t even feel like you’re in a hospital,” said patient Arlene Kougioulis. Kougioulis was recently admitted for hip surgery and was one of the first patients to take advantage of the newly designed floor.
“It’s really a lot different than it used to be,” she said. Kougioulis pointed out the side-sliding, barn-style door that leads to the bathroom.
“That’s nice. When I’m on the walker I can just push it over. There’s so much room,” she said. Kougioulis also liked the private room, fold-down shower seat and the new flat screen television.
According to Amanda Badovinac, marketing and public relations coordinator for St. James, the changes on the floor reflect a growing change in the delivery of hospital care nationwide and were made in the spirit of previous hospital improvements.
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The floor will be used primarily for the care of orthopedic and neurological patients with private suites designed with the patient’s needs in mind. For those dealing with end of life issues, the fifth floor also houses a room designed for providing palliative care, which is supportive care for the terminally ill designed to maintain comfort and reduce pain as the end of life approaches.
Other special features include on on-floor rehab gym, private bathrooms with recessed shelving to hold toiletries, and linen closets that open from the inside and outside — so they can be replenished without disturbing patients.
“I think the private rooms have been a great addition. There’s family space in the rooms,” said Cheryl Stensrud, fifth floor nursing director. In addition to more floor space, the rooms have a specially designed in-room daybed for loved ones to sleep.
“I’ve heard nothing but good things,” said Nancy Clark, occupational therapist. Clark is especially enjoying the on-floor rehab gym.
“It makes it so much easier because (patients) don’t have to go long distances to get their treatments,” she said. Clark is using the gym’s kitchenette to train hip replacement patients how to function in a home environment during their 8 to 12 week recovery period.
Dr. Nicholas Blavatsky of Montana Orthopedics was also impressed with the new floor.
“It’s one of the nicest floors I’ve seen in 22 years of practice,” he said. Blavatsky added that no matter how great the physical appearance of the fifth floor, there was no substitute for quality, competent patient care.
“Our ultimate goal is superb case management with our patients,” he said.
