University Hospital unveils remodeled 11th floor
A renovation of the hospital’s 11th floor adds 34 new beds for medical and surgical patients.
With the snip of seven pairs of scissors, USA Health increased the capacity of University Hospital by about 15 percent.
Actually, it took a few months of construction to transform the previous storage area into 34 new, modern patient care rooms designed for both medical and surgical patients. The additional beds bring University Hospital up to nearly 220 beds in service.
“This floor will help lead the way as we continue to grow as a health system,” said Alan Whaley, Ph.D., USA Health chief operating officer and interim administrator for University Hospital.
“We are a trauma center, we are a highest-level stroke center, we are a burn center, and we just recently opened the Fanny Meisler Trauma Center. We cannot realize our potential in any of those areas without the capacity to support the efforts,” said Michael Chang, M.D., USA Health chief medical officer. “This floor will allow us to diminish our diversion time in a way that will allow us to take care of those patients who come to us as the only academic health system in the region.”
Jada Gardner rejoined USA Health to become the nurse manager of the 11th floor. Little did she know what was in store for her at the time she accepted the position.
“Being asked to return to University Hospital and develop the nursing team for the 11th floor was a challenge I was ready to accept,” she said. “We have a tremendous team of people. They have filled in the gaps to help staff the pandemic efforts at the (Mobile) Civic Center; they have provided monoclonal antibody treatments here at University Hospital, and now they will transition to care for the patients here on the 11th floor.”
