OCR Text |
Show Caring Magazine BUILDING FOR A NEW As a nonprofit health care system, IHC returns all money it earns to the community in the form of improved facilities, better services, and lower patient charges. Since IHC was created in 1975, it has invested than more $1 bil- lion in upgrading its facilities. Another $1 billion is being spent from 1997-200- This is one way IHC reinvests its higher standards with regard to seismic considerations, computer information systems, and other technological innovations. After the caregivers have discussed their patients' needs, the clinical team sits down with the architects to work on the building design. One example of a clinical design team's work is the Newborn Intensive the new margin in the community. The new facilities are not just prettier versions of the old ones. They are Care Unit (NICU) in designed around new ways of caring for patients and reflect the input of physi- designed by neonatologists, nurses, other caregivers and by parents of premature babies. Many parents volun- cians, other clinical staff members, and patients. Each facility is also built to ' ri-'i- , , i ' 1. ' to our team's recommendations, and the NICU is old unit. t" about triple the replace Large windows fill their parents. Each baby now has some 150 square feet of space, which avoids crowding and affords room for the par- ents to spend time visiting. new isolettes will be available that will This year, even allow mothers to lie next to their infants. Sleeping rooms are also available in the unit for parents who wish to v t H spend the night. "Our goal is to return as much care t $ I i ' f f as possible to e ? flit 4 " ' . !! ; 4l ' S t t ' ' the parents," said Stephen Minton, M.D., chief of neonat-alogat Utah Valley Regional. "Even r J f ff the result is this beautiful new NICU, which truly represents the state of our art. This unit is second to none anywhere in the world." Similar teams have been at work in designing other new facilities, such as the hospital in Ogden which will the room with soft daylight, which is more healthy for both the infants and l ' ' significant impact on the babies' growth and development. IHC listened unit was input on a variety of issues and share their experiences with other parents. As a result of the team's recommensize of - The teer to serve on an informal advisory council to the NICU, where they provide - .f,, -- i Medical Center in Provo. dations, the "'" s 3 r ! West Building of Utah Valley Regional y though our patients here are quite tiny, contact between parent and child has a McKay-De- e and the new hospi- tal planned for the Salt Lake Vatley. |