LITTLE ROCK — The $16 million expansion to St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Hot Springs has done exactly what officials hoped - provided more room and services for patients.
The 20,000-square-foot Mercy Heart and Vascular Center opened July 28, and since then 222 patients have used the new facility, said Vicky Sanders, the center's executive director.
Sanders said the facility provides patients with the same quality service but in a more streamlined, convenient way.
"The expansion has give us more space, which has led to less waiting time and more convenience for our patients and guests," Sanders said.
Ground was broken on the expansion two years ago, and it has further enhanced the center's already comprehensive approach to cardiovascular care, she said.
Sanders said the expansion includes a new heart and vascular catheterization area - expanded from five beds to 12.
"The expanded service allows patients to experience a "one-stopshop" experience with registration, pre-procedure, procedure and postprocedure care all being done in one place," Sanders said.
Along with the addition to the new heart and vascular catheterization area, the center also includes an outpatient heart and vascular clinic with an area for vascular screenings, remodeled and enlarged cardiac rehabilitation facility, a larger waiting room for heart and vascular patients, new admissions and registration area and additional office space.
Sanders said the cardiac-rehabilitation facility is used by patients who have certain cardiac diagnosis.
"Patients who have had heart attacks, stints or other cardiac eventsuse the facilities so they can be monitored while they exercise," Sanders said. "The patients also learn about their new diets and the lifest yle modifications they are going to have to make. Also the facility has been equipped with more exercise equipment so that we can have larger classes to better meet the needs of our cardiac patients."
Sanders said the expanded waiting room features an additional private room so doctors can speak w ith family members.
"We didn't have a private family room before, so now the doctors can go in and explain a diagnosis or procedure to a family in private," Sanders said.
Sanders said she has talked with patients who like that they have everything done in one place.
"Before, patients had to go across the hospital for surgery, now they get it all done in one place and they like that," Sanders said.
Sanders said the doctors and nurses were equally excited to get into the new facilities. Fourteen physicians, eight cardiologists, one cardiovascular surgeon and five interventional radiologists, work at the new expansion. Cardiovascular Director Danny Bledsoe said the new facility will help their patients in many ways.
"From the convenience of the location to and from the procedure rooms to the added rooms with glass doors that reduce noise levels and the location of the recovery rooms from the nursing station that allows us to better [see] the patients," Bledsoe said. "It's a great improvement." - epannell@ arkansasonline.com
Tri-Lakes, Pages 56, 57 on 09/04/2008