A new 23,000-square-foot, 24-bed mother/infant unit has opened at Bon Secours St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian, Virginia. The space complements the existing hospital, which was inspired by the beauty of Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis. Large windows and a neutral color palette accented by blues and greens create connection to nature; integrated lighting and large wall graphics aid in wayfinding.
The large, private patient rooms feature space for baby’s bassinet, a computer for in-room charting and amenities — such as sleeper sofas, recliners and charging outlets — for visiting friends and family members. To create adaptability and flexibility for the future, a portion of the patient rooms can be separated from the unit and used for isolation or post-op gynecological patients.
A centralized, open nurse station encourages collaboration and gives the care team unobstructed views of patients, while a staff lounge and respite room provide space for recharging. Additionally, the unit includes a transitional nursery with space for procedures, a family room, a patient education classroom and a two-bay lactation support suite. The project team included Gresham Smith and Skanska.
