A multidisciplinary team at Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan, designed a 28-bed Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (CPCU) that promotes nurse-patient interaction at the bedside, improving comfort, safety, satisfaction, and family involvement.

The CPCU is a hybrid design with decentralized alcoves outside each patient room to bring caregivers closer to the bedside. Integral blinds in each alcove provide a balance between patient privacy and line of sight. Computers are located in each alcove and each room. A pass-through allows caregivers to access medical records from the room and alcove. This innovative design supports Relationship-Centered Care and improves patient satisfaction because of the proximity of caregiver to patients. A centralized team care station provides space for confidential caregiver communication.

The design decentralized frequently accessed support areas, such as medication and supply rooms, to improve response time to patient needs, increase productivity, and decrease staff fatigue. Nurse servers allow access to supplies inside the room for timely response to patients, and outside the rooms for quiet stocking of supplies to limit patient disruption.

The footwall was designed as an organized patient and family communication center with caregiver and scheduling information and the plan of care. A pendant-mounted fixture houses a TV and electrical outlets at the foot of the bed to provide improved TV viewing and access to power, minimizing equipment at the head of the bed. This configuration improves caregiver access to the patient, especially during emergent situations. Supporting a minimal lift environment for injury prevention, patient lifts were installed.

Project category: Addition (completed December 2005)

Chief administrator: Tom Brisse, Senior Vice-President & Hospital Director, (248) 964-8800

Firm: Harley Ellis Devereaux, (248) 262-1500

Design team: Jon W. Block, AIA, Project Manager; Thomas W. Swerc, Design; Dorian L. Rushing, Interior Architecture; David A. Power, AIA, Architecture; Kirk G. Pesta, PE, Mechanical Engineering; Steven A. Milz, PE, Electrical Engineering

Photography: Steve Maylone, Maylone Photography

Total building area (sq. ft.): 24,892

Construction cost/sq. ft.: $233

Total construction cost (excluding land): $5,800,000