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Expansion Nearly Complete at West Virginia Hospitals East | State Journal
October 28, 2011
Martinsburg, WV -- The finishing touches are nearly all in place in an expanded and updated emergency department at West Virginia University Hospitals East.
The $11 million expansion has not only increased capacity from 27 to 40 beds, but it has been configured to provide a private room for every patient. Additionally, the design provides for a centralized administrative area that congregates staff for increased efficiency and reduces noise in patient rooms. The department is now capable of handling 65,000 patient visits annually, up from 45,000 before the expansion. And staff facilities, including new office spaces, physician call rooms and a 12-seat conference room, have been included.
In a nearly paperless system, each patient room is equipped with a computer monitor on which patient progress, pharmaceutical orders and test results are noted. Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. Daryl LaRusso said this system allows physicians to initiate orders for patient care before leaving the patient's side. "Before I leave the room, I can hit the 'send' key," he said.
Other technology keeps track of the location of key personnel and machinery with electronic tags that operate like an in-house GPS system. These tags also time-stamp as personnel complete tasks for patient care, giving the hospital continuous data on staff efficiency. And wireless audio allows personnel wearing tiny monitors to speak to each other from anywhere in the department.
The updated department is now organized in three "pods" -- color-coded white, blue and gold -- to adhere to West Virginia University colors. Additionally, the blue pod houses the department's resuscitation suite, a nod to the term "code blue," that is used for patients in extreme distress.
The department maintains rudimentary laboratory facilities, for such tests as pregnancy and strep, as well as a pneumatic tube system that allows staff to receive medications from a central pharmacy. Just inside the ambulance bay door, a decontamination area includes two showers and an eye sink.
Patient comfort also has been taken into account. A lounge-style waiting room is outfitted with clusters of wide, upholstered benches in tones of eggshell blue, aqua, avocado green and brown, while plastic glass partitions segregate an area where a television plays children's programming. Each patient room is equipped with television.
Situating the expansion on the hospital's 37-acre campus was a challenge, with nearly no undeveloped space available, according to hospital representatives. Construction was executed by the Winchester, Va.-based contractor Howard Shockey & Sons, Inc.
In the 23 years he has worked at the hospital, LaRusso said, "I've never seen so much progress."
Source: The State Journal, by Maggie Peterson
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