Welcoming the First Patients to the Friedman Building

This week, we welcomed our first patients to units 42 and 52 in the newly opened Louis and Phyllis Friedman Building.

I’m pleased to report that thanks to all the preplanning, process development, and adherence to the process (with minor adjustments along the way), the transfer of patients was smooth and successful, with patient safety being the highest priority throughout. 

On Tuesday, November 14, a total of 52 patients were moved onto the new units in fewer than six hours, beginning with a team huddle at 7:30 a.m. and ending with the transfer of the final patient to Unit 52 at 1:10 p.m. This was the culmination of an extremely detailed planning process, complete with a practice run to estimate timing and anticipate challenges. 

A tremendous amount of cross-functional collaboration, led by members of the Emergency Preparedness and Promise Project Operational Readiness teams, made this achievement possible. In a true show of unity and teamwork, approximately 70 volunteers from departments of various disciplines across GBMC pitched in, going beyond the scope of their usual roles to make the day successful. It was inspiring to see so many staff members leaning in to help others when needed – it was truly an all-hands-on-deck effort. 

I was also thrilled to hear about the positive response from the patients who were admitted to the units– because the patients are our purpose. The picture accompanying this blog post shows one of the first patients transferred. To enhance the element of surprise, he covered his eyes with his blanket until he was in the room for the final “reveal.” He was ecstatic about the size of the room! Knowing that patients expressed this level of excitement to be part of GBMC’s history underscores the value of these new units and how they will allow us to better serve the community. 

Thank you to the teams who made this happen and to all the patients and their loved ones who were so understanding during the move! 

Submit a Compassionate Caregiver Award Nomination 

We are accepting nominations for the 2023 Nancy J. Petrarca Compassionate Caregiver Award through December 31, 2023. This award recognizes individuals who listen to, support, advocate for, and understand what patients and their caregivers are going through. We welcome nominations from anyone – whether from the community, our workforce, or volunteers. I’d also like to point out that any staff member or volunteer with GBMC Hospital, GBMC Health Partners, or Gilchrist can be nominated, whether they work in clinical or non-clinical roles 

Click here to submit a nomination. Thank you for taking a moment to recognize our staff and volunteers! 

Recognizing Staff 

This week honors several occupations within healthcare nationally. Please join me in recognizing our Nurse Practitioners, who order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests; diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions; prescribe medications; and educate and partner with patients in making healthy lifestyle changes. Thank you also to our Perioperative Nurses for their essential roles in caring for patients before, during, and after surgical procedures. I’d also like to share gratitude to our Home Care Aides and expert partners with Avila Home Care for helping our patients thrive in their homes with supportive services including companionship; light housekeeping; meal preparation; transportation; assistance with bathing, dressing, skin care; and more.