Flood-Prompted Interior Renovations Give New Life to The Women’s Hospital at Centennial
Swift changes create greater ease of access for patients
NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 14, 2011 – As Middle Tennessee’s only freestanding hospital dedicated to the care of women and babies, The Women’s Hospital at Centennial could not afford delays in renovating the devastation incurred from the 2010 Nashville flood. The flood brought unwelcome complications for The Women’s Hospital staff but also allowed for additions and improvements to the hospital’s main lobby.
“As a Nashvillian, I witnessed firsthand the devastation and renovation woes that the flood created for homes and businesses,” said Joann Ettien, administrator and chief operating officer of The Women’s Hospital at Centennial. “We did not let the flood affect hospital operations and used it as an opportunity to update and relocate various hospital spaces.”
The Women’s Hospital at Centennial called on Inner Design Studio, Nashville leading healthcare interior design firm, to handle this high priority, accelerated project.
“We moved quickly so the renovation would be as seamless as possible for The Women’s Hospital,” said Pam Faulkner, senior designer of Inner Design Studio and head designer for the Centennial project. “Since it was essentially a flood restoration, the construction moved at a faster pace. Within a day and a half, the construction crew had all the dry wall cut out and prepped for us to come in. We completed this renovation in under a year, which is unheard of. Most renovations of this size take much longer.”
Within the renovation process, Inner Design Studio’s main task was relocating the OB/GYN emergency department—previously located on the eighth floor—to the first floor, which is also the main entrance. Relocating this area was a top priority for The Women’s Hospital in order to make the department more accessible to patients.
Originally, the first floor was an admission area, but flood-prompted renovations allowed Inner Design to create additional areas within the first floor including the OB/GYN emergency department as well as a new lactation area with consultation rooms and physician sleep areas on the second floor that now allow Centennial to have OB/GYN staff available 24 hours a day.
In addition, the main lobby was revamped with Inner Design-customized elements, including: a laminate cherry and marble-top desk, light installation behind the reception desk that illuminates a new Women’s Hospital at Centennial signage created by Inner Design, feature wall that mimics water instead of using an actual water feature which poses potential health hazards and furniture that meets LEED qualifications for upholstery and wood.
Further improvements to the first floor, such as an enlarged IT area and upgrades to staff workstations, help create an improved work environment for the staff. Inner Design positioned workstations to be adjacent from each other instead of separated throughout the building. The workstation’s furniture layout encourages group workspace but features the option for private workspace as well.
“Unexpectedly, the flood allowed The Women’s Hospital to make improvements to the hospital and created a more efficient layout,” said Faulkner. “Centennial’s new space improves accessibility for patients and makes the first floor a single point of entry for patient care.”
For more information about the Centennial project or Inner Design Studio, visit the website at http://www.innerdesignstudio.com/.
About Inner Design Studio
Inner Design Studio was founded in 1993 to offer experienced interior design services to the Healthcare Community. As the only healthcare interior design firm in the Nashville market, it has a strong team of experienced and highly motivated designers who continue to develop long term relationships based upon successful working projects. Inner Design Studio has designed more than 492 Medical Facilities throughout the United States since its inception including 224 ambulatory surgery centers, 47 diagnostic centers, 41 occupational medical centers, 88 hospitals, 47 private practice physician groups and 45 medical office plazas. The firm currently designs for healthcare companies as HCA-The Healthcare Company, LifePoint Hospitals, AmSurg, Universal Health Services, Carolinas HealthCare System and Ameris Health Systems.
About The Women’s Center at Centennial Medical Center
The Women's Hospital at Centennial is Middle Tennessee's only freestanding hospital dedicated to the care of women and babies. Centennial Medical Center, part of HCA/TriStar Health System, is a 657-bed facility that is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). One of Tennessee’s most complete medical facilities, the hospital campus is home to The Sarah Cannon Cancer Center at Centennial, The Women’s Hospital at Centennial, Centennial Heart Center as well as Parthenon Pavilion, one of the oldest and largest full-service psychiatric facilities in the region. Round-the-clock care is also available at Centennial Medical Center at Ashland City, a critical access hospital in nearby Cheatham County. To learn more, visit TriStarHealth.com and click on Centennial Medical Center or call 800-242-5662.
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Jeff Bradford/Natalie Townsend, info@bradfordgrp.com, 615.515.4888
