CRITICAL CARE WAITING AREA

TUPELO, Miss.—North Mississippi Medical Center will open a new waiting area Saturday, Nov. 8, that is as progressive and unique as the critical care unit it serves.

NMMC’s 50-bed critical care unit opened in April with state-of-the-art technology and a design that allows health professionals full view of patients at all times. Trauma, respiratory failure, acute cardiac and congestive heart failure patients as well as those who have undergone neurosurgical, cardiac and other complicated surgical procedures may be hospitalized in the CCU.

“With the increased capacity of the new critical care unit, we needed a waiting area with increased capacity as well,” explained Pam Wallis, RN, nurse manager for the unit. While the new waiting area is more than double the size of the existing one, the space is much more comforting.

“In addition to providing the best care for our patients, we are also doing our best to support their families,” said Faye Perry, RN, director of critical care. “It is very stressful to have a loved one in a critical care unit. We want to be sensitive to the needs of families.”

The new waiting area features three types of seating, including comfortable chairs and recliners. To reduce noise and enhance privacy, telephones are located away from the seating area. A data port is also nearby for guests who would like to use their laptop computer to send or receive e-mail messages. Guests may also watch television while waiting, if they desire.

The waiting area includes a snack area where visitors can take advantage of free coffee and tea. Vending machines are also available.

Showers and dressing areas are offered for family members who must travel a distance and stay several days. Local hotels also provide discounts to family members who need overnight accommodations.

Visiting times for the critical care unit are 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. for individuals 12 years and older. A patient representative is available in the waiting area 24 hours daily to provide information and assist with families’ needs.

For more information about the critical care unit and other services available at NMMC, call 1-800-THE DESK (1-800-843-3375).

Sidebar:

Being a Good Visitor

Knowing how to be a good hospital visitor can make your relative or friend cope more easily with the difficulty of a hospital stay. These tips can help you be a better visitor:

· Some patients are too ill to have visitors. Be sensitive to the patient’s needs. It may be better to send a card.

· If you are ill, do not visit. Do not take sick and unruly children to visit a hospital patient.

· Focus on the patient’s thoughts, feelings and concerns, not your problems or those of others in the hospital.

· A positive outlook on the part of the patient and their family members is important to recovery.

· If a doctor or nurse comes into the room while you’re visiting, excuse yourself and step out of the room to allow the patient to ask questions that are personal.

· A visit of 10-20 minutes is often enough for both the patient and visitor, particularly when the patient is very ill or tired.

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