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TheSouthShoreMagazine.com 7 TheSouthShoreMagazine.com A GroWinG need And A HeAlTH SySTem'S reSPonSe The new spacious and light-filled Richard and Joann aubut Critical Care Unit (CCU) at South Shore Hospital is the embodiment of the hospital's commitment to providing world-class care to the South Shore community. The unit is the centerpiece of South Shore Health System's Mission Critical Campaign, the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the organization's history with a goal of raising $70 million by 2022—the 100th anniversary of South Shore Hospital. The multi-year campaign aims to enhance patient care for families in Southeastern Massachusetts for decades to come. The new 24-bed CCU is the health system's response to a growing need for highly technical, specialized care. In 1980, less than 500,000 people lived in the area; that number has now jumped to more than 725,000, increasing the population the hospital serves by 50 percent. Within this fast-growing group, the number of residents over 65 is increasing steadily, which adds to the potential patients who will need critical care services. adding to this need is the changing face of the ICU critical care patient at South Shore Hospital. Over the years the patient complexity has grown due to several factors, including the hospital becoming a Level II Trauma Center in 2008, the addition of the Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center in clinical affiliation with South Shore Hospital in 2009, and the growth of its surgical program. The CCU treats a variety of complex patients, including patients who have undergone cardiac procedures, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, vascular surgery, or general surgery for trauma. With the increase in cancer, cardiovascular care and surgical procedures the hospital provides, South Shore Health System is now caring for hundreds of patients who historically would be cared for in Boston. "patient complexity has increased dramatically," says CCU Nurse Manager Nancy ahearn. "The new CCU is configured to address increasingly complicated levels of care." deliberATe deSiGn To begin the design process, clinicians traveled to area hospitals to tour CCUs and learn what they liked and didn't like about each unit. The group brought back several interesting observations that were worked into the final design of South Shore Hospital's CCU, literally starting from the ground up. The flooring in the new CCU is three millimeter thick rubber flooring, thicker than the standard 2-millimeter flooring. "It's been proven to be better on staff's feet and it's a much quieter product," said Liz Bahnuk, Director of Facility planning for South Shore Health System. also helping to keep the noise levels down are the innovative, built-in nurse servers in each room. These closets are filled with supplies that clinicians need for various procedures that occur in the patient's room. "The new nurse servers allow for materials to Supporting families during a stressful hospital stay was always top of mind when the unit was constructed. details include a waiting room that has a café kitchen with coffee, drinks and snacks, and a children's play area. Caregivers know that having family close to the patient is important for healing. The new patient rooms feature a designated family area with a pullout couch, closet, desk and privacy curtain. h&h.Winter (Dec) 2017.indd 7 12/27/17 2:01 PM