Newswise — The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) will present the ICU Design Citation to the intensive care units at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, during the 2015 National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition, San Diego, May 18-21.
The hospital’s medical and surgical ICUs are receiving the award to recognize the patient- and family-focused elements incorporated into the design of the state-of-the-art 60-bed units that are part of its new nine-story Heart & Vascular Institute.
The design of the medical and surgical ICUs at Our Lady of the Lake focused heavily on incorporating natural light and family space to support healing. The rooms are equipped with the latest technology, including ICU booms suspended from the ceiling to improve safe patient handling procedures and video-conferencing equipment for mobile virtual monitoring of patients.
The design was built around the patient and features innovative elements like noise-reducing corridor layouts and the absence of lighting on the ceiling to prevent direct illumination in a patient's eyes.
The décor promotes comfort and healing in a home-like atmosphere with earth tone colors, wall art and accent pieces.
“We set out to build an intensive care unit that is both technologically superior and exceptional in its capacity to make patients and family members comfortable, and in partnership with the architecture firm VOA & Associates, we are proud to be acknowledged on the national stage for this achievement,” said Terrie P. Sterling, chief operating officer for Our Lady of the Lake.
The coveted award — co-sponsored by AACN with the Society of Critical Care Medicine, Mount Prospect, Illinois, and the Committee on Architecture for Health of the American Institute of Architects, San Francisco — recognizes intensive care units that successfully combine functional design with humanitarian care delivery.
About the National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition: Established in 1974, AACN’s National Teaching Institute & Critical Care Exposition (NTI) represents the world’s largest educational conference and trade show for nurses who care for acutely and critically ill patients and their families. Bedside nurses, nurse educators, nurse managers, clinical nurse specialists and nurse practitioners attend NTI.
About the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses: Founded in 1969 and based in Aliso Viejo, Calif., the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) is the largest specialty nursing organization in the world. AACN joins together the interests of more than 500,000 acute and critical care nurses and claims more than 235 chapters worldwide. The organization’s vision is to create a healthcare system driven by the needs of patients and their families in which acute and critical care nurses make their optimal contribution. www.aacn.org; facebook.com/aacnface; twitter.com/aacnme
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