Deaconess Gateway Hospital

The new Telemetry Step-Down Unit, designed to provide the much needed specialized patient beds at Gateway Hospital, consists of nurse stations, required support spaces, and a total of 32 patient rooms. It also contains a central bank of monitors to aid in nurses working more efficiently. Previously, all patients were monitored from the Deaconess Midtown Hospital’s location in Evansville.

Unique features of this unit include a sliding linen shelf and medication pass-through drawer in each room so patients are not disturbed, as well as the latest “nurse-call” technology for personalized requests at the push of a button. Throughout, the interiors encompass healing elements such as natural light and color palettes and patterns that emphasize a quiet and calm atmosphere.

A challenging aspect of the project was the tight schedule in which the unit had to be complete. The only solution was to start construction before the design was complete. After construction began, Hafer created a mock-up room and worked closely with hospital staff and contractors to finish the design of each patient room.

As a state-of-the-art telemetry unit, the hospital provides patients with exceptional care and a supporting environment for their family. The pass-through system has been well received and the hospital has made plans to use this floor design as a model for the upcoming unit renovations.