March 31, 2006

Inpatient rooms get new look

After months of planning and anticipation, a makeover of the MGH inpatient units currently is underway. Beginning in February, the hospital began to receive the initial deliveries of new furnishings for patient rooms, which will replace mismatched and outdated pieces, create a more uniform look and will allow for easier moving of furniture between rooms.

By the time all deliveries are complete— which is anticipated to be sometime in mid-July — more than 5,000 pieces of furniture will have been brought to the MGH, including stackable chairs, high-backed patient chairs, footstools, bedside cabinets, mattresses, cribs, beds and overbed tables. Additional inpatient room improvements — such as new cubicle curtains and wall art — also are planned for the coming year.

As part of the room improvements, the hospital also is piloting the use of ceiling lifts, which currently are being tested on White 12 and Blake 7. The lifts are used to help with difficult transfers of patients out of bed and can help decrease staff injuries sustained while lifting and transferring patients.

"Those units that have received the new furniture have all raved about it," says Daniel Kerls of MGH Patient Care Services. "Our patients and their families also are saying how much they enjoy the new comforts of the hospital."

MGH staff members demonstrate new ceiling lifts.