Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 6, 1994 TAG: 9403040099
SECTION: ROANOKE MEMORIAL HOSPITALS PAGE: RMH-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Joanne Anderson
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Walking into Roanoke Memorial Hospital through the main entrance and veering to the right across polished granite and between rich mahogany panels and a modern glass curtain wall creates a sense of wonder. In the two-story open area, water slides down a granite wall, and a unique paper sculpture called Radiant Light Quilt displays color variations and shapes to convey contentment.
A sense of tranquility permeates the atmosphere. At the same time, the architectural grandeur imparts courage and inspires confidence.
Information directing you through the new South Pavilion is located with a bank of new public elevators. Each elevator has a granite floor, mahogany wall panels and gentle lighting. Visual and braille buttons for every floor, except the fourth and fifth, are positioned for easy access next to the door.
The fourth floor contains the surgical suites and is off limits to the public for protection of the patients. The fifth floor houses the mechanical system.
Braille signs are also located throughout the south Pavilion. The entire building complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
A receptionist is stationed near the elevators on every floor to assist the public. The waiting areas on the top four floors are adjacent to the elevators.
Escalators to a mezzanine area of the second floor may be used by people visiting hospital offices, health information management services or medical records.
If you arrive on the roof, instead of the ground, you must have flown in on the Life-Guard 10 helicopter. A team of medical personnel will be waiting with life support equipment to escort you inside. A special oversized elevator, which has been keyed for the use only by your medical team, will be standing open.
Most likely, you'll take a quick ride down to the second-floor emergency department and be wheeled into a trauma room for immediate evaluation. In this area, you may have X-rays taken, receive a computerized tomography (CT) scan, or undergo special tests without leaving the area. A laboratory in the department can produce results that will guide your medical care team to appropriate procedures and medications.
An ambulance ride, on the other hand, will bring you to one of two entrances at the second floor emergency department specifically for ambulance use.
"Before you even arrive at the door," explained Dr. Richard Surrusco, medical director for emergency services, "a nurse will have been assigned to care for you, and an area will be designated for you." Information about your condition will also have been transmitted by the ambulance attendants to the emergency department staff.
Although emergency departments were originally established to handle life-threatening medical conditions and trauma injuries, their role has changed over the years, and non-urgent care is also administered here.
For those who drive or are driven to the emergency department, a short-term parking area is reserved on the second level near the door marked "Emergency Entrance." Security and parking personnel are available to assist incoming patients to the triage desk. Here, a triage nurse will make an instant determination about the acuity level - or seriousness - of the patient.
A patient will then be directed to Registration and a waiting room, or assigned an examination room or be admitted directly to an acute care emergency area.
Whichever way you arrive at the South pavilion of Roanoke Memorial Hospital, you will be welcomed into what Peggy Crosson, director of patient representatives and volunteer services, calls a "patient-focused and family-friendly" health care environment.
by CNB