As dozens of Inland Hospital staff and community supporters looked on, Inland leaders held a ground breaking ceremony today to mark the start of a construction project that will modernize the hospital’s medical-surgical unit.

“It’s an exciting time as we prepare for the future of healthcare at Inland and in Waterville,” said John Dalton, Inland President and CEO. “This project will help us create a state-of-the-art healing environment that promotes better patient care and a better practice environment for staff.”

The 5.4 million dollar renovation will involve three major parts: consolidating the medical-surgical and intensive care units; renovating the unit’s semi-private (double) patient rooms to private rooms; and creating a new care infrastructure on the medical-surgical floor.

“Patients and families will be very pleased with these changes because they are the ones who told us what would make their hospital experience better and we’ve listened,” according to Rick Barry, RN, BSN, Vice President of Patient Care Services. “For example, private rooms allow for more privacy and dignified care as well as a safer environment for patients and staff. The rooms will be ‘clinically current’ with state-of-the-art lifting equipment, private bathrooms with showers, and accommodations for families and visitors. Also important is that single rooms are proven to help prevent infections.” Barry added that doubling up in rooms used to make sense, but today, patients who are admitted to the hospital are sicker, so private rooms will allow them to rest more and recover even faster.

Design changes to the layout of the medical-surgical floor will involve making two nurse’s stations at either end of the unit instead of one in the center as it is now. This efficiency will offer opportunity for more care at the bedside.

Michelle Skehan, RN, Director of the medical-surgical unit thanked donors of the project and shared her excitement for the improvements that will be made. “We want the best for our patients because they are like family to us.”

“This is an example of how we are transforming the way we deliver care in the constantly changing world of healthcare,” said Dalton. “Inland and EMHS are committed to Waterville and we are proud to strengthen this hospital’s role in the community as a place where patients and families always come first.”

Capital Campaign Chair Charlie Gaunce, a Waterville businessman and Inland supporter for 50 years noted his enthusiasm for the renovation to inpatient rooms and Inland Hospital. “Inland is an organization that is growing and making a substantial positive contribution to our local economy. I am honored to help build on a new future for healthcare in Waterville.”

The project is scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2013.

For more information, please contact Donna-Jo Mitchell, MBA, Director of Philanthropy, Inland Hospital Foundation, 861-3377 or dmitchell@emhs.org. 

Inland Hospital is a 48-bed community hospital on Kennedy Memorial Drive in Waterville. As a proud member of EMHS, Inland is dedicated to providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place. FMI: www.inlandhospital.org. 

Read more about Inland's renovations in the Morning Sentinel.