What's New at SMCH?

Stewart Memorial Community Hospital has been working its way through a major remodeling project. The first phase is the new birthing center, which consists of four rooms, two of which are classified as labor/delivery/recovery/postpartum (LDRP) rooms, two observation rooms, the nursery and a family center or day room. They are identical and equipped with the latest equipment. Having all of the same equipment in the same place in each room is valuable to the nursing staff and doctors. It makes it much easier for them to find the needed supplies with the least amount of effort.

* View photos of our new birthing center *

Additionally, the rooms have new flat-screen television sets with DVD players and are equipped with free Internet connections.

A special feature is the newly installed infant security system. Should a newborn be taken too close to a door leaving the birthing center, an alarm will sound.

The new intensive care unit, which was also moved to the north wing of the hospital, has two rooms that have been outfitted with the latest technology for the hospital's sickest patients. Included are wireless cardiac monitors that can be used anywhere in the hospital. The ICU beds also can be used for post-operative care for patients who have had major surgery or for medical-surgical patients if that wing is full. There is also a two-family day room adjacent to the unit.

One of the key features in the renovation was construction of a circular nursing station that serves as the hub in the patient care area. The birthing center, intensive care unity and medical-surgical staff all work from the same center.

This phase also includes the construction of a new pharmacy, outpatient infusion area, sleep study area, and an information technology service center located in the former intensive care unit. Construction of the new pharmacy provides more space for the drugs dispensed in the hospital and allows the department to meet imposed federal guidelines.

The first part of the second phase of the three-phase, three-year renovation project is already underway and that is the infrastructure phase which includes the boiler, mechanical, heating and air conditioning and plumbing. The second part of the second phase is complete renovation of the surgery area.