Ontario Construction News staff writer
Stevenson Memorial Hospital (SMH) is resuming the construction of an ICU. Work will begin July 13 for the Level 2 ICU, a 16-week project scheduled to be complete in November.
The Central Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) provided $1 million in funding for the project in the spring of 2019. While planning took place over the course of 2019, the project was delayed due to some infrastructure challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Level 2 ICU Committee is now confident to move forward to ensure the project is completed by the end of the year.
“We have an opportunity to build critical care space to meet the ever-growing complexity of patient needs at our hospital,” said Jody Levac, President and CEO at Stevenson.
“Our dated infrastructure requires a redevelopment, and as we wait for an approval from the Ministry of Health, we are doing everything we can to update our space and ensure the community can have critical care, closer to home.” he adds.
The hospital is forging ahead during the COVID-19 pandemic, a decision that Levac says was carefully made but one that was very important.
To ensure that funding is still available, as well as contractors who have been waiting to proceed, it was determined that the time is now to move forward.
“With the onset of COVID-19, we have certainly been seeing patients with critical and advanced care needs, so I’m excited that we are moving forward with the Level 2 ICU project,” said Carrie Jeffreys, VP Clinical Services & Chief Nursing Executive.
“We have added Respiratory Therapists to our staffing complement as well, who have been instrumental during the pandemic and will continue to fill a critical role at SMH once our Level 2 ICU is complete,” she adds.
A renovation of the Emergency Department trauma room is also underway, include new flooring, paint, upgraded equipment and surgical lighting. A sliding glass door will also be installed, expanding the entrance and providing more privacy with internal blinds. The trauma room has not received a renovation since it was built in 1964.
The hospital’s facilities manager is currently working with Tamarco, the project’s contractor to schedule the rest of the work and complete the renovation, including new entrance/doorway, lighting and state of the art ‘boom’.
The $75,000 renovation is possible thanks to community donors who have fully funded the project. The project will take two weeks to complete with minimal impact to patients.
“We are working to modernize our aging infrastructure as we await our approval for redevelopment,” Levac said.
“Our patients, staff and community members deserve to have a hospital that is updated to reflect modern standards. I thank our community donors for making these significant transformations possible.”