DANVILLE — Provena United Samaritans Medical Center is preparing to begin Phase 1 of a construction project to relocate Rehabilitation Services to the lobby level, and create a Clinical Decision Unit in the Emergency Department on the ground level.

Last week, several staff offices were temporarily relocated to the fourth floor of the medical center. Next week, Speech Therapy Services will be relocated to the offices just across from the cafeteria on the ground level near the north entrance. Physical therapy patients will check in to the rehabilitation gym just northeast of the main elevators on the ground floor while construction begins on the lobby level behind registration.

The Rehabilitation Department delivers nearly 6,400 therapy sessions annually, and the new location will benefit patients in a number of ways.

“Patients will have to travel through the hospital less, have better accessibility for check-in and waiting, as well as proximity to our Red Vest volunteers for transport assistance when needed,” said Jennifer Cord, vice president of operations at Provena, in a press release.

Phase 1 is expected to be completed near the end of April, Cord said.

Phase 2 of the project is expected to be completed by mid-June. During Phase 2, the Clinical Decision Unit will be created in the former rehab gym space, immediately north of the Emergency Department. The CDU will provide an alternative to discharge or hospital admission for patients who may need extended observation or additional diagnostic evaluation.

“Having a CDU benefits the patient and the hospital in a number of ways,” said Susan Miller, RN, BSN, Emergency Department director at Provena, in the release. “For one, it can reduce unnecessary hospital admissions and thus the cost to the patient and the hospital, and possibly prevent a premature discharge from the Emergency Department.

“Also, having a designated unit to observe these types of patients frees up resources to expedite care for emergency patients with more acute needs.”

Fundraising began in early 2012, and money raised locally, along with capital dollars from the Presence Health system, will fund the project.

Provena receives grant

Part of that funding comes from the Iroquois Federal Foundation, which presented a $10,000 grant to Provena United Samaritans.

The grant will fund part of the hospital’s future Clinical Decision Unit.

Tom Chamberlain, vice president and chief lending officer at Iroquois Federal, said in a press release that the foundation is proud to be a part of this project, adding, “Provena is always working hard to improve the patient experience and this CDU project is a great testament to that.”

Mike Brown, president and CEO of Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, said community support is key for projects like the CDU to succeed.

“When you’re trying to get something new off the ground, knowing you’ve got partners like the Iroquois Federal Foundation who are willing to stand behind you and support your mission is a really great feeling and we’re going to put these dollars to work,” he said in the release.

The foundation was started in 2011 and provides financial support to charitable and community service organizations. This grant falls under the area of health and human services, through which it supports programs essential to underlying medical care as well as initiatives that focus on physical and mental wellness.

FYI

For information about services at Provena United Samaritans Medical Center, visit http://www.provena.org/usmc.