Left to right) Raluca Anca, MSN, RNC-OB, clinical nurse education specialist for Labor & Delivery/ PETU; Briana O’Hanlon; Bruce Hunt, project manager in Real Estate, Design, and Construction; Melissa Wheeler; and Elizabeth Quigley.
On December 5, Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) staff gathered at the Perinatal Evaluation and Treatment Unit (PETU) for its grand reopening. Initially opened in 1996, the PETU has taken on a reimagined appearance, featuring art to promote healing and transformed workspaces to enhance treatment for expectant and postpartum patients.
When the unit was established more than two decades ago, it was the first of its kind in the Philadelphia region, evaluating patients at all stages of pregnancy who were experiencing high-risk situations such as preeclampsia and hypertension.
“Patients now have an enhanced unit that is truly reflective of the high-quality care we deliver to the nearly 900 patients we see each month,” said Elizabeth Quigley, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, clinical director of Women’s Health.
Here are a few highlights of the new and improved PETU.
PETU Core Team – A New Team for New Workflows
Established by Melissa Wheeler, MSN, RN, nurse manager of Labor and Delivery/PETU, the PETU Core Team has been guiding staff through new workflows implemented in the unit. For example, the PETU now has its first Patient Intake Room. When the unit experiences high patient volumes, staff can use the space to start collecting information and evaluating patients before their appointments. The team, who Wheeler describes as the “gurus” of the hospital, consists of eight individuals to ensure that someone is always available each day of the week across various shifts. “In the PETU, you need strength, quick assessment skills, agility, and a go-with-the-flow attitude, which are key traits demonstrated by our Core Team members,” said Wheeler. “The team ensures that we are providing consistent care across shifts, and helps ease the transition for staff working in this newly designed space.”
Paintings with a Purpose
Throughout the unit, patients and staff are surrounded with artwork, focused on themes of nature, to create a soothing atmosphere. The paintings are molded in Lucite – an acrylic glass with a reflective surface.
“The team devoted a lot of time to make sure every piece brought serenity to the unit,” said Briana O’Hanlon, BSN, RNC-OB, assistant nurse manager of the PETU and lead of the PETU Core Team. “It’s a beautiful, welcoming place, and it makes you start your day on the right foot.”
To differentiate between inpatient and outpatient care, one side of the PETU has been painted blue, while the other has been painted green. In addition, each individual patient room has a fresh paint color with new whiteboards for patient information, along with new mirrors, vanities, shelves, and faucets in the bathroom.
Supplemental Storage
Alcoves have been constructed to better store equipment in hallways, such as ultrasounds and EKG machines. A designated room has been created to organize and secure medications, with space for staff to prepare any medications before entering a patient’s room. Each patient room also has a storage cart that securely contains supplies staff need for clinical care, such as blood tubes and lab bags.
“Previously, they would’ve had to leave the room to find medical equipment, stored in various areas throughout the unit. Now, everything they need is right at their fingertips,” said Wheeler. “Staff love how everything has a home and a purpose in the PETU. This new look and and feel has brought so much joy to everyone.”