South Florida Baptist Hospital has undergone many renovations within the past year, as part of a plan to revamp and modernize the hospital.
Now, a newly-renovated medical/surgical unit has been added to the list of completed improvements.
The unit, 2-South, which open April 1, will treat patients who will undergo major invasive surgeries and are required to spend at least one night in the hospital.
The entire unit has been renovated, reconfiguring 18 semi-private rooms to become 16 completely private rooms. Each room contains a family area, private bath and shower, 42-inch television and a digital white board. Tile floors, warm, wooden headboards, and softer lights give the rooms a more hotel-like feel.
Each room also will feature telemetry technology, so patients won’t have to leave the unit to go to the main telemetry center in 2-East.
The $3.8 million unit was designed by architect Curtiss Haynes.
“It’s functional, as well as attractive,” Jim LeHeup, manager of facilities, said.
Before, there were only two community showers in the unit, and each room housed two patients.
Along with the rooms, the nurses’ station was given a new look, with enclosed walls to diminish noise. There are several alcoves and visitor lounges to accommodate family and friends.
“Most hospitals build an addition,” Steve Nierman, hospital COO, said. “But, we took an existing space that’s 60 years old and had to transform it.”
The obstetrics unit, known as 3-South, also has undergone renovations. New flooring and a new ceiling have been installed, along with a refurbished nurses’ station and lobby enhanced with wood and glass, similar to the surgical unit.
And it’s not just the inside that is receiving a face lift. The surrounding outside grounds of the hospital has undergone changes as well. A new 119-space parking lot located at the corner of West Reynolds Street and Plant Avenue opened in late February.
Hospital officials will continue renovations this year. In June, the hospital will break ground on a $5.7 million expansion to build two new operating rooms. The project will take about 15 months to complete.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.