ICU Expansion Reimagines Care in Critical Times

Like other healthcare facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic, Stillwater Medical Center experienced high demand for critical care services. Their Intensive Care Unit (ICU) quickly reached capacity. With only six rooms, the demand highlighted the need for an expanded care environment. REES designed a phased renovation and expansion to optimize the unit’s capacity while also improving support spaces. The 6,200-square-foot renovation and 13,800-square-foot expansion unit significantly increases the ICU’s capacity, adding 14 additional rooms.  

Enhancing the Standard of Care

The transformed unit features six intermediate care rooms and 14 critical care rooms, all designed to balance functionality, patient comfort and infection control. Key design features include sliding doors for easy patient bed access, ample storage for supplies and strategically located medical equipment to streamline staff workflows. Each room includes a tall wardrobe for belongings, dedicated space for loved ones to stay and a full bathroom with a shower for added convenience. The critical care portion of the unit incorporates negative-pressure isolation capabilities, enabling safe and effective care for patients with contagious illnesses.  

Support for Staff and Families

Nurses can monitor patients and record notes at dictation spaces throughout the unit, ensuring a balance between observation and privacy. Two nurse stations are positioned in the unit to ensure that care is always in quick proximity to patients.  During patients’ stay, their loved ones benefit from a variety of support spaces including a larger, more welcoming family waiting area. The renovated ICU also improves accessibility. A direct connection to the facility’s elevators from the hospital entrance makes it easier to locate than before.