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Published  August 31, 2016 [https://www.texashealth.org/heb/news/texas-health-heb-opens-new-icu-with-expanded-capacity] BEDFORD, Texas — Texas Health HEB today opened a new intensive care unit that puts patients at the center of the design, with larger rooms, more natural light and a quieter environment for healing.

The 18-bed unit features patient rooms that are spacious and private, enabling family to be more closely involved in the healing process with the option for one family member to stay overnight with the patient. The rooms were also built with the flexibility to allow patients to stay in one room throughout their journey, with caregivers rotated to meet their needs. Large windows provide more natural light that helps promote regular circadian rhythms and a sense of calm through an atmosphere more connected to nature, which is also reflected in the soothing, nature-inspired color palette and natural materials.

“This hospital has been part of the HEB community for more than 40 years, providing care to those in need and doing so close to home for local residents. That allows family and friends to be alongside their loved ones as they heal,” said Deborah Paganelli, FACHE, president of Texas Health HEB. “With the opening of this new facility, we will be able to provide that advanced care to more and more of our friends and neighbors.”

Texas Health HEB serves almost 4,000 patients with critical care needs annually. The new ICU is part of a $25-million hospital expansion project, which broke ground in February of 2015. The expansion will help address growing health care needs of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford area, with double-digit growth projected for residents 65 and older in the coming years. Many of these seniors are affected by chronic conditions, such as heart disease, cancer or diabetes, often times requiring high acuity care. In addition to the new ICU, the expansion will include a new interventional radiology suite and other services.

“The care teams comprised of physicians on the medical staff and nurses on the unit are delighted to have this space, and I know we’ll continue to provide the same quality care we’ve provided for decades,” said Margaret Markey, R.N., B.S.N., CCRN, manager of critical care and hemodialysis. “But the benefit of the new unit is that it enables us to focus more on patient-centered care. This is a peaceful, healing environment that puts the patient and their loved ones at the center of everything we do.”

To provide a calm, quiet atmosphere, the needs of the clinicians were also prioritized when designing the new unit. Physicians on the medical staff, nurses and other clinicians have common workspace areas where they can chart and dictate notes. Substations located throughout the unit allow nurses a direct view to patients from hallway desks, and larger, flexible workspaces built into the unit will accommodate on-site team meetings, education and meetings between families and physicians.

Dedicated break rooms and a physician on-call room provide places for the physicians and hospital employees to take a break, rest and reflect without having to leave the unit.

“This new ICU tower represents Texas Health HEB’s continued commitment to serving the people of this community at all stages of their life’s journey – and it represents the support of the community in making this care possible,” said Lynne Moffatt, chair of the Texas Health HEB Board of Trustees and chair of the Development Council. “This hospital has a strong legacy of caring for the people of HEB, and we are proud to support its work with enhancements that will make it possible for generations to come.”

Other features of the new unit:
Each patient room has its own dedicated en-suite bathroom.
Windows that look onto the unit turn opaque at the flip of a switch.
Staff can restock supplies from outside the room via special access drawers to avoid disturbing the patient.
Rooms are built with the utmost in flexibility to allow caregivers to keep the patient in his or her room throughout their critical care journey, rather than changing rooms to allow for different medical needs or personnel.
Special rooms are dedicated to treating bariatric patients, as well as rooms for patients with infectious diseases.