To streamline its care of critical patients, Auburn Memorial Hospital announced Tuesday it would be cutting back on the number of beds in its critical care unit effective next month.
The renamed critical care unit will include only 10 beds, compared to 20 beds formerly in the hospital's two critical units - cardiac and intensive care.
The move, which is planned for Sept. 11, is about effectively using space in the hospital, not sacrificing patient care, said AMH administrator Brendan McGrath.
"This doesn't mean the level of services we would give to someone with a cardiac emergency or recovering from surgery would be any less than it already is," he said.
The new unit will be located in the current cardiac care unit space on the hospital's third floor. Space currently used for the intensive care unit will be utilized for other types of patient care, according to a press release.
Hospital staff surveyed the needs for critical patient care during the past six months and decided the reorganization would be the most efficient use of resources, McGrath said.
McGrath isn't sure what the space formerly occupied by the 10 beds will be used for but expects a decision in the next two weeks.
"It's certainly prime space in the hospital," he said.
About 20 positions will be affected by the move.
Registered nurses involved in the consolidation will be given the option of moving to the new critical care unit or accepting currently vacant positions in the hospital, McGrath said.
Nurses in the two units being consolidated have similar training and have been known to work between the two departments when necessary, which makes the consolidation more logical, McGrath said. "These two units back each other up."
Chad Hoffman, administrative organizer for the regional office of the Service Employees International Union Local 1199, agrees that there will be "no negative impact on patient care" but said some nurses are upset about the change because, while they will have options of moving into new positions, "they may not be happy about what those option are."
"In the short and the long run, it will be better off for the patients," Hoffman said. "In the long run, it will be better off for nurses."
Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or elizabeth.hacken@lee.net
The move, which is planned for Sept. 11, is about effectively using space in the hospital, not sacrificing patient care, said AMH administrator Brendan McGrath.
"This doesn't mean the level of services we would give to someone with a cardiac emergency or recovering from surgery would be any less than it already is," he said.
The new unit will be located in the current cardiac care unit space on the hospital's third floor. Space currently used for the intensive care unit will be utilized for other types of patient care, according to a press release.
Hospital staff surveyed the needs for critical patient care during the past six months and decided the reorganization would be the most efficient use of resources, McGrath said.
McGrath isn't sure what the space formerly occupied by the 10 beds will be used for but expects a decision in the next two weeks.
"It's certainly prime space in the hospital," he said.
About 20 positions will be affected by the move.
Registered nurses involved in the consolidation will be given the option of moving to the new critical care unit or accepting currently vacant positions in the hospital, McGrath said.
Nurses in the two units being consolidated have similar training and have been known to work between the two departments when necessary, which makes the consolidation more logical, McGrath said. "These two units back each other up."
Chad Hoffman, administrative organizer for the regional office of the Service Employees International Union Local 1199, agrees that there will be "no negative impact on patient care" but said some nurses are upset about the change because, while they will have options of moving into new positions, "they may not be happy about what those option are."
"In the short and the long run, it will be better off for the patients," Hoffman said. "In the long run, it will be better off for nurses."
Staff writer Liz Hacken can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 267 or elizabeth.hacken@lee.net
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