Father Tom Koyickal casts holy water into one of the renovated patient rooms on Sacred Heart Hospital's fourth floor.

Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola has renovated a unit on its fourth floor, enhancing patient comfort and improving the work environment for physicians and staff. The 4 West unit consists of 25 rooms and is dedicated to patients needing respiratory and renal care.

The unit received a top-to-bottom facelift to create more open, comforting patient-care rooms, more space for physicians’ needs, and a brighter, more user-friendly nurses’ station. In patient rooms, flat-screen TVs and slimmer custom-made cabinets contribute to a more spacious atmosphere. The new cabinets were designed to be higher than the old cabinets so that patients easily can reach their belongings without interference from bed siderails.

“Safety was a priority in making our furniture selections,” says Marjorie Fiorilli-Minski, Patient Care Manager. “Locking rolling swivel casters on the furniture allow staff to easily move furniture and lock it safely into place for patient use. The edges on the bedside cabinets are rounded for safety, and beds are the skin-friendly Hill-Rom air mattresses.”

In addition, furniture includes new patient recliners, over-bed tables, sleeper chairs, chairs for visitors and comfortable task chairs in work areas. New privacy curtains and new flooring complement the décor which features maple-wood cabinets and carmel-colored countertops. Maple-wood planks are used at each patient-room entry for a more sophisticated look.

Hues of pale blues, golds and tans throughout the unit not only brighten patient-care rooms, halls and work areas, but also help give a more open feel in each patient room and promote a soothing work environment.