Critical Care

Henry Ford Macomb Hospital's 56,000-square foot tower for critically ill patients is among the region's most advanced. From the private patient rooms to the corridors and family lounges, the center is designed to promote a sense of calm and healing.

Therapeutic music, soothing colors, non-linear hallways, comfortable furnishings and touches such as waterfalls, aquariums and plenty of natural light are featured in the new facility. The new rooms feature special amenities for family members including visitor seating and sleeping accommodations, and Internet access.

The second and third floors include 24 patient rooms each, all equipped to handle the advanced requirements of intensive care patients. The new rooms are flexible enough to handle both intensive care unit patients and "step-down" patients. In some cases, as patients progress from ICU to "step-down" status, they may remain in the same room.

Rather than traditional nurses stations that are removed from patient rooms, both floors put the nurse right next to the bedside at all times. Wireless charting systems bring the future to the bedside. From workstations outside each set of rooms, nurses complete more extensive charting and computer work. Windows between the workstation and room give staff the ability to continuously see the patient and monitor their vital signs.

Henry Ford Macomb treats hundreds of patients each year with orthopedic or neurological conditions that require rehabilitation therapy. The fourth floor of the addition provides twice the current treatment space for rehabilitation patients and also features state-of-the-art design and equipment.

The new space includes:

• A large gym for formal therapy sessions
• A therapeutic recreation room for leisure time activities
• A resource library for patients and families
• Private counseling rooms
• Two large group activity rooms that can be subdivided to make four rooms
• Improved activities of daily living facilities that will include a kitchen, two bedrooms, a living room, a bathroom and a laundry room