Safety by Design

To decrease the potential for infection/contamination

• Hand washing sinks in every room, hand sanitizers throughout the facility.
• Making all rooms private reduces contact with other patients and visitors.
• Decontamination rooms allow for isolation of infectious patients.
• Outpatient departments located nearest entrances, reducing unnecessary traffic through inpatient areas.

To provide overall improved safety

• State-of-the-art access control system, fire alarm system, and infant security system, connected to central command center.

To reduce the potential for falls

• Handrails in many hallways and other areas.
• Heated sidewalks at main public entrances.
• Floor patterning in patient rooms designed to minimize contrasts for visually impaired and elderly.

To promote standardization of care to all patients

• Uniform room design for consistent placement of equipment.
• Standardization of nurse call system throughout the hospital.

To promote safe patient handling

• Over-the-bed lift devices in several rooms.
• Use of tile instead of carpeting to reduce push/pull effort when transporting patients.

To decrease time in responding to patient needs

• Use of Vocera communication devices.

To promote the health and well-being of patients, staff, visitors, others

• Non-smoking campus.
• Increased indoor air quality through low-emitting materials and increased ventilation rates.
• Family/visitor accommodations encourage the presence of a patient advocate.