Improvements were made this year in St. Lucie Medical Centers (SLMC) technology, facility, operations and community outreach.
Facility Expansion
SLMC announced a $22.4 million dollar expansion to build a 35-bed orthopedics unit with private patient rooms and two additional operating rooms. This upscale expansion, to open next summer, will have a hotel-like atmosphere.
The “Circle of Caring”
Technology
In June, SLMC received the only daVinci robotic surgical system on the Treasure Coast and began offering robot-assisted surgeries for men and women, such as hysterectomies, general surgeries and prostate cancer surgery. Patients undergoing robotic surgeries have less blood loss, pain, and scarring, reduced risk of infection, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery.
St. Lucie also began offering digital mammography and breast MRIs. Electronic medication reconciliation equipment helps ER reduce the risk of medication errors.
Operations
SLMCs emergency department has been in the national media because of its operational improvements. . Use of high-tech systems like patient tracker and bed trackers help to significantly reduce ER wait times despite a 10% increase in patient visits. Physicians send orders electronically to the lab, pharmacy and imaging. The ERs use of new technology and a “lean” process, have patients experiencing average wait times to see the physician as low as nine minutes. ER wait times are posted on the hospitals website.
SLMCs emergency room
Community Outreach
Nearly 600 people joined the hospitals “Circle of Caring”, an open invitation to the community to join hands circling the hospital while an aerial photo was taken to capture the event. The event validated the unity and caring that exists within our hospital, as well as our community.
St. Lucie also celebrated its 25th anniversary. Several hundred people joined the celebration, participated in the health fair, and saw displays and operating room setups showing several types of surgical equipment and diagnostic procedures.
Joining a community-wide effort, the entire St. Lucie Medical Center campus became tobacco-free. (November 20). Smoking and tobacco use wont be permitted on its campus, including parking lots and adjacent sidewalks. The goal is to create a healthier place for everyone, including patients, visitors, volunteers, employees, physicians.
“This was a very good year for St. Lucie Medical Center. Im proud of what we accomplished, and I give credit to our hardworking employees, medical staff and volunteers for our success,” said Gary Cantrell, CEO.
