New Health-Care Complex (Contact / Media Information)
Design and Development
The new health complex is more than just a new building. The space has been designed to promote:
- a healing environment with natural light and views
- a healthy work environment with walking paths, gardens, healthy eating options
- a safe and secure environment with decentralized care stations and controlled access in select areas
- ongoing learning, teaching and education
- an improved patient and family experience with accessible public spaces and patient washrooms, bedside entertainment units and private rooms
- best practices in infection prevention and control
- opportunities for training and development in new programs for cancer care, cardiac catheterization and tertiary mental health
Improving the patient, family experience highest priority
More than 300 front-line staff, including nurses, physicians and experts in hospital design participated in the design and planning process for the new health-care complex. Their contributions, along with incorporating international best practices learned post-SARs will make the hospital one of the most innovative facilities in the province.
When the design process for the new health complex and cancer centre began in 2007, Niagara Health System nurses and professional staff were critical to linking the opportunities provided by the creation of a high-tech building with high-quality care.
“Well-designed care environments support practitioners to deliver safe and effective care, while at the same time contribute positively to the patient’s healing journey,” says Interim President and CEO Sue Matthews.
The involvement of staff and the public in defining the priorities of the new hospital began in 2007 with a visioning session, followed by two years of user group sessions involving front-line staff who had the opportunity to further refine the needs of programs. Eight guiding principles for the design process came as a result of the visioning process.
“It came as no surprise that the highest priority identified by staff was to improve the patient and family experience, followed by a focus on a healthy work environment,” says Gloria Kain, Chief Planning and Development Officer.
Additional priorities include the focus on infection prevention and control, as well as improvement of learning/training and educational environments and opportunities.
“Given the challenges facing hospitals today, care environments must promote integrity of the clinical encounter, empower the patient, focus on relief of suffering and promote long-term health and wellness, which contribute significantly to both client and staff satisfaction,” says Sue.
“Our new hospital includes many patient-centred design principles such as private rooms, easy wayfinding, large corridors, interiors that suggest openness, beauty and calm, larger rooms to accommodate patient ambulation, the avoidance of intrusive technology, as well as incorporating many green design features,” adds Sue.
Where staff requested an improvement of the patient/family experience, the architects designed brighter spaces that foster a healing environment, spaces designed for accessibility that help patients feel more in control, and features that promote healthy lifestyle choices.
Where staff requested a focus on a healthy work environment, spaces were designed to promote staff and patient safety, with features designed to reduce anxiety and strain, thus contributing to staff satisfaction.
Additional improvements include the focus on infection prevention and control and features to support ongoing learning, teaching and education.
This interactive approach provided the basis for the design that is currently under construction at more than 83 per cent completion.
Development of the state-of-the-art facility is on schedule, on budget and on scope for completion by November 26, 2012. Following a few months for training and orientation, the new health complex will open its doors to provide patient care in the spring of 2013.
The following list of department spaces make up the 980,805 sq.ft. new Health-Care Complex and Walker Family Cancer Centre in St. Catharines.
Niagara Health System new Health-Care Complex and Walker Family Cancer Centre in St. Catharines
| Departmental Name | Department Gross Area (SF) | |
|---|---|---|
| A01 | Acute Med/Surg Inpatient Services | 131,080 |
| A02 | Ambulatory Care | 18,767 |
| A03 | Cardiac Services | 10,957 |
| A04 | Cardiology Diagnostic Services | 6,189 |
| A05 | Chronic Kidney Disease | 18,864 |
| A06 | Critical Care Services | 22,793 |
| A07 | Emergency Services | 32,848 |
| A08 | Endoscopy / Cystoscopy Services | 8,134 |
| A09 | Maternal / Child Services | 41,768 |
| A10 | Mental Health Services - Acute Inpatient | 19,021 |
| A11 | Mental Health Services - Specialized Inpatient | 33,058 |
| A12 | Mental Health Services - Ambulatory | 16,521 |
| A13 | Mental Health Services - Shared Space | 9,131 |
| A14 | Mental Health Services - Public Space | 1,533 |
| A15 | Niagara Diabetes Centre | 5,955 |
| A16 | Pediatric Services | 18,935 |
| A17 | Peri-operative Services - CSR | 8,721 |
| A18 | Peri-operative Services - Surgical Suite | 42,502 |
| A19 | Respiratory Services | 5,631 |
| B20 | Clinical Nutrition | 946 |
| B21 | Diagnostic Imaging | 33.137 |
| B22 | Laboratory Medicine | 16,193 |
| B23 | Pharmacy | 5,863 |
| B24 | Spiritual and Religious Care | 2,007 |
| C25 | Academic Activities | 9,086 |
| C26 | Administration Services | 26,020 |
| C27 | Clinical Coordination / Patient Services | 1,011 |
| C28 | Education Services | 4,164 |
| C29 | Environmental Services | 4,540 |
| C30 | Food Services | 31,580 |
| C30a | Project Co. Retail Pharmacy | 4,990 |
| C31 | Health Records | 7,734 |
| C32 | Information and Communication Technology | 4,085 |
| C33 | Materials Management | 8,483 |
| C34 | Physician Services | 3,161 |
| C35 | Biomed Eng / Security / Equip Depot | 3,423 |
| C35a | Project Co. Services | 9,278 |
| C36 | Public Facilities | 4,670 |
| C37 | Volunteer Resources / Auxiliary | 2,159 |
| D38 | Walker Family Cancer Centre | 58,720 |
| Non-Departmental Circulation | 122,227 | |
| Mechanical/Electrical Areas | 108,992 | |
| Other Building Gross-Up | 55,926 | |
| Building Total | 980,805 |