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Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Undergoes Renovations $10M project to update 100 inpatient rooms

WALLINGFORD, CONNECTICUT, September 26, 2019 – Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is undergoing a major $10M renovation of four floors of inpatient rooms on its Lyman and Hooker wings.

One-hundred patient rooms, nurse stations, family areas and staff rooms that were originally constructed in the 50s and 70s, are being renovated to create a more functional and aesthetically pleasing environment that more accurately reflects the quality of care that Gaylord provides.
“Our patients are at the center of all that we do,” said Gaylord President and CEO Sonja LaBarbera. 

“Because our patients’ average length of stay is at least 26 days, making sure that their time with us is as supportive, productive, safe and comfortable as possible is of utmost importance to the entire Gaylord team. This overarching commitment has driven the redesign of our patient rooms, incorporating the latest in both architecture and medical knowledge to meet the unique needs of the patient, their family and our world-class clinicians.”
  LaBarbera explained that over the last year, Gaylord conducted a series of in-depth interviews with staff, therapists, physicians and nurses to identify the chief concerns related to the current facility and identified three key aspects to be upgraded and modernized: patient rooms, equipment and technology, and common and technical spaces.

Each renovated room will provide plenty of light and is designed with modernized color schemes and contemporary furniture that enhance the comfort of both patients and their visitors. Similar to patient rooms, the entire patient wing – including lounge areas, nurses’ stations, hallways, and solariums – will be made to feel modern, bright, and comfortable.

The optimized rooms will ensure that clinicians will have space to easily access all of the instrumentation, equipment, communication tools, and other technology that they need to care for their patients quickly, efficiently, and correctly.

Patients will be provided ample space to participate in the rehabilitative process and will have access to modern-day amenities such as Wi-Fi and smart televisions to make their stays as comfortable as possible. The rooms are also designed so that families and visitors are given ample space to support their loved ones throughout their extended stay.   Patient rooms also have been designed to meet the latest in health and safety standards, with the installation of new toilets, solid-surface sinks, blinds, glass whiteboards, reconfigured medical fixtures, and additional handrails. Each patient room will be outfitted with a ceiling-mounted lift for patient and staff safety.   Additionally, cardiac telemetry monitoring units are being installed to monitor the heart health of vulnerable patients in real-time. Gaylord will also add bedside medical verification technology throughout the patient wings and will provide necessary training to all personnel.

The $10M project is being funded through donor support and from an $890,000 grant from the Governor’s Nonprofit Grant Program; a $120,000 grant from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, which includes support from Ruth A. Meier Fund, Anne Hope Bennett Fund, Aspel and Seymour & Clara Gans Memorial Fund, Eugene M. Blake Fund, Estelle A. Johnson Fund; and a $75,000 grant from the Meriden-based Cuno Foundation.  

About Gaylord Specialty Healthcare:
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a rehabilitation-focused, nonprofit health system located in Wallingford, Connecticut, that provides inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to maximum recovery.
Gaylord Specialty Healthcare includes three components. Gaylord Hospital offers medical rehabilitation for acute illnesses, accidents, or complex medical conditions. Gaylord Outpatient Services offers nearly 40 programs for a wide range of conditions. Gaylord Physical Therapy provides orthopedic rehabilitation for recovery from surgery or injury.