East Addition
As previously mentioned, the first floor Medical Imaging Unit is completely relocated and fully functional. The one exception was the Nuclear Imaging area where VVMC had opted not to spend resources to move the existing two cameras from the original suite because one was scheduled to be replaced. This now has been completed with a new camera purchased, installed, and staff being oriented to use. The second camera also has been relocated to the new department.

On the second floor, the Yavapai Unit completed a smooth transition of moving patients from the old unit to the new as scheduled on Thursday, Oct. 16. Congratulations to staff for a well-planned, coordinated move which went as planned with no difficulty or interruption to patient care.

During the week of Oct. 13, layout began for the new fourth floor OB Unit. Layout is when the rooms and wall partitions are marked out on the floor. Framing has just begun, and is scheduled for completion in early December.

For the OB construction project, two fourth floor windows on the south side of the east addition have been removed in order for materials and supplies to be accessed and brought in by extension lift. A chute will be built next to the wall through which debris will be dropped into a ground-level dumpster. Both will be located near the new employee door on the south side of the building, necessitating safety precautions be put into place. This may require rerouting of staff foot traffic around the dumpster and lift. Should this become necessary, appropriate personnel will be stationed to provide direction.

Workers for the project will have sole access to the east stairwell, and one of the new service elevators has been designated for construction use. Please do not use this elevator during this time.

North Addition
The Transcare Unit is scheduled to move from its current location to the first floor of the north addition on Tuesday, Nov. 4. At that time, the unit’s name will change from Transcare to Telemetry. A Telemetry Unit is a step-down unit in which staff members care for patients in need of close cardiac, or minimally invasive, monitoring as well as patients progressing from critical care to a lower acuity. This unit also serves varied age groups with a mixture of comorbidities (medical conditions existing simultaneously with and usually independently of another medical condition).

If you participated in one of the Expansion Celebration open house events, you may have noticed two courtyards on the Telemetry Unit. Both include water features and seating. The largest courtyard is open to the public; however, the smaller courtyard has been designed and will be designated as an off-stage area for staff use only.

When the unit vacates its current second floor location, the space will get a facelift before it becomes the new 10-bed unit for VVMC’s Joint Replacement Program patients.

Internal
With the recent occupancy of the new additions, there is approximately one year remaining in VVMC’s building project. We now are in the remodel and renovation phase. VVMC is coordinating with HBE (project managers) to relocate their offices from the Willard Street trailers to the second floor of the north addition which will reduce monthly overhead costs for the project.

Since Medical Imaging vacated its former space on the first floor, workers have been busy transforming the area to accommodate the expansion of Emergency department services. Through the multiple construction phases, processes and plans have been developed to ensure the ED maintains efficient and safe quality patient care.

Early in the project you may have noticed a new canopy built outside the ED. This will be used as the future EMS/ambulance entrance. A second canopy soon will be constructed which will be the future patient walk-in entrance.

The new equipment storage and supply room has been turned over to Surgical Services. This will address a long-time need to relieving storage congestion in this department.

As patient care is vacated from the former Cottonwood Unit, a schedule will be developed for backfilling the space for Support and Ancillary Services needs.

On the second floor, work continues on renovations for Cardiovascular Services for the Outpatient lobby.