In keeping with its mission to deliver high-quality care to patients in North Central West Virginia, UHC dedicated a new 18 bed Intermediate Unit (IMU) today. These aesthetically enhanced private rooms, located on the seventh floor, include a patient-centered design that provides specialized care to patients who typically require longer stays.
Hospital administration held a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, September 24, with area residents and dignitaries in attendance. The new IMU will officially open to patients on Tuesday, October 1.
“The need for IMU services only became more apparent with the continued growth at UHC,” said David F. Hess, MD, CEO, UHC. “We are now much better positioned to meet the needs of our patients, as more and more require complex care in our evolution to become a regional referral center for the central part of West Virgnia.”
The rooms in this $7.9 million unit will feature new cabinetry and recliners, individual climate control features, LED light fixtures, wood grain laminate flooring, soundproof ceiling tiles, and private bathrooms with walk-in showers and raised toilets. Each room will offer an expansive view of the beautiful pastoral setting offered on the UHC campus. IMU nurses and ancillary staff have received specialized training and education through collaboration with multiple disciplines and close partnerships with the CCU team. This partnership will continue to be fostered between CCU and IMU as the unit opens and grows.
Coinciding with the completion of the IMU at UHC are the renovations to the Emergency Department (ED) waiting area, since the ED is often the first point of entry for patients in need of critical care. The new ED waiting area now includes enhancements to lighting, ceiling, flooring, walls, fixtures, restrooms, the addition of charging stations and some seating areas with partitions for more privacy.
“These projects are UHC’s commitment to deliver exceptional care while meeting the needs of our patients in North Central West Virginia,” said Stephanie Smart, MSN, RN, vice president of Nursing/Chief Nursing Officer. “Our multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals will work in concert to provide exceptional care that is tailored to the special needs of our patients.”
Pictured above is an artist rendering of the nurses’ station on the 7th floor of the new Intermediate Unit (IMU) at WVU Medicine United Hospital Center. An IMU is an in-between space for the patient is too sick to go to a regular patient room, but not ill enough for the Critical Care Unit (CCU).
Please note, the information provided throughout this site is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. All content, including text, graphics, images, and video, on or available through this website is for general information purposes only. If you are experiencing related symptoms, please visit your doctor or call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
