UPTOWN — Weiss Memorial Hospital has made enhancements to its emergency room to make it more senior-friendly, with updates that support improved stroke care and patient navigation.
Wednesday morning, the hospital at 4646 N. Marine Dr. will host an open house in its lobby for neighbors to learn about the enhancements, beginning with a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m., according a press release for the event.
“As we age, taking care of our health often becomes an even more important focus in life, and emergency care is an important health resource for seniors," says Anthony Tedeschi, M.D., Chief Executive Officer at Weiss.
Each year, its emergency room has more than 23,000 visitors and more than 16 percent of those patients are over the age of 65, he said.
“With the older population growing around the country and within our own community, we know that seniors will make up an increasing share of our emergency room patients in the coming years," said Tedeschi, adding the enhancements will benefit the community at large.
Improvements include:
• Non-skid flooring, remodeled bathrooms and privacy curtains
• New pillow speakers, nurse call buttons, overhead lights, dimmer light, televisions and pressure-reducing mattresses
• New reading glasses, phones and recliners
Weiss has some of the shortest ER wait times, treating conditions ranging from broken bones to life-threatening injuries, but the hospital has worked to increase convenience for patients, according to the press release announcing the improvements.
“Every emergency room sees a number of people who are coming in with non-life-threatening emergencies... Earlier this year we introduced online ER check-in, which gives patients with non-life-threatening emergencies the option to check in online and wait at home, rather than in the ER waiting room,” said Mary Shehan, chief nursing officer for Weiss.
“This has been a great satisfier for people coming in with more minor conditions," she said.
The staff is also adding a "patient navigator" to help them get better acquainted with resources after they leave the emergency room, she said.
“The navigator will improve [the] continuum of care for patients and also help manage any questions they may have from their ER visit," she said.
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