New Bigger and Better Centre for Outpatients at GNG
- January 2008
- Français
Clinical Managers Monica Koepke and Glenn Wiffin review new equipment in cast room at GNG's renovated Ambulatory Care Unit.
It was just one year ago in January that the brand new Jeff Morgan Emergency Department opened at Greater Niagara General Site (GNG). The paint was barely dry before construction crews were back at the Niagara Falls hospital to begin converting the old Emergency Department into a new Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU).
The second phase of construction has involved a major conversion of space, some dating back to 1958 when the hospital was built and other sections going back to the early 1970's. Altogether, about 18,500 sq. ft. of hospital space has been renovated from top to bottom, including a 1,000 sq. ft. expansion to the front entrance, new heating, ventilation & air conditioning, plumbing, electrical systems, reconfiguring rooms, moving walls, new lighting, flooring and installation of a new nurse call system. The new ACU, to be used exclusively for outpatient services, will see about 32,000 patients per year, or up to 225 patients per weekday.
The new ACU, at 17,500 sq. ft., houses a busy day surgery recovery area, pre-admission, ambulatory and medical day-stay clinics, as well as providing a convenient link to endoscopy and other clinic areas. Scheduled outpatient clinics include specialty medical clinics (fracture, ophthalmology, etc), minor procedure clinics and medical day-care. Diabetes education will take place in this area as well.
"What we've done is consolidate the majority of our outpatient services to one convenient area," says Frank Demizio, Vice President of Clinical Services with responsibility for GNG. "Our main front entrance has been closed for the year because it too is being expanded, so that outpatients can come into our hospital, find their way to patient registration which is now conveniently located close to the front entrance and easily register for the treatment they need in our Ambulatory Care area."
Clinics and Outpatient Programs to be Located in ACU are:
- Day Surgery – Sometimes called Surgical Day Stay, this active program now boasts a new larger area for pre- and post-operative recovery care. With 25 stretcher bays (up from 15 bays in the old area) the busy unit, often running from 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., cares for about 10,300 patients each year, or 30 to 45 patients per day. The location of the unit is now literally across the hall from the hospital's five Operating Rooms, so the logistics of caring for patients more efficiently, without travel through lengthy hallways, is a bonus for patients and staff. Early completion allowed this part of ACU to open in September 2007. Unfortunately, due to the busy Day Surgery schedule, this part of the unit will not be open for tours on Jan. 18.
- Pre-Op Clinic – About 25 people per day will have appointments between 9:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. a few weeks before their booked overnight or day surgeries.
- Outpatient Clinics – Between 30 and 125 people per day will attend a variety of treatment clinics in the area near the old ambulance entrance. This space now includes six exam rooms, a cast room, ear/nose/throat room, eye room and three minor procedure rooms. Some current clinics are:
- Oncology (Cancer) Clinic
- Orthopaedic (Fracture) Clinic
- Ophthalmology (Eye) Clinic
- Medical Day Stay – Five treatment bays and work areas will serve up to 25 people per day for treatments such as blood transfusions and medication infusions. These treatments take several hours and the Day Stay area will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Niagara Diabetes Clinic – Up to 20 adults and children per day will come for individual and group appointments on diet, lifestyle and other diabetes education between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Patient Registration – All non-emergency patients coming to GNG will register in the new patient registration area, conveniently located near the main entrance.
Paving and curbing in front of the hospital is now complete and for the first time, there will be just one parking lot across the front of GNG, connecting the Kitchener Street parking entrance with the North Street parking entrance for patients and visitors.
The above-mentioned programs will be moving into their new quarters shortly after the official opening, with the move of equipment and supplies taking place over a weekend to avoid cancelling any patient bookings. The new front entrance to the hospital will also open in the very near future.