When undertaking an intensive bed tower renovation, hospital leaders must weigh the investment cost against anticipated gained efficiencies, as well as often overdue improvements to patient and family experience. A phased construction plan must balance cost escalation with bed demand, and the disruption of taking beds out of service to provide swing units. Converting two-bedded rooms to private rooms can be a cost-effective solution to increase the useful life of an aging bed tower, when accompanied by infrastructure enhancements that support care delivery and technology integration.

Embarking on the renovation of an operational bed tower is not for the faint of heart—to achieve the level of transformation hospital leaders envision, a collaborative, process-led approach is imperative. The design team is uniquely positioned to help clients drive culture change, improve outcomes and increase safety and satisfaction. Strong construction partners who provide real-time cost and schedule input is invaluable. 

At University Hospitals MacDonald Women’s Hospital, the newly renovated Barbara Peterson Ruhlman Women & Newborn Center strives to provide the ultimate healing environment for women, babies and families. Patients include high-risk OB patients and women with babies in the adjacent NICU, as well as women recovering from GYN surgery.

The newly completed 20-bed unit is the first phase of the tower renovation. The entire team, which included hospital and nursing leaders as well as the expert neonatology team, was committed to creating a comforting and hopeful spa-like atmosphere that empowers women through respect, choice and support and recognizes each patient and their families as partners in care and healing.