What Is New At St. Vincent's Medical Center

St. Vincent's Medical Center strives to be on the cutting edge of medical advancement and moving toward the future of medical technology. Over the past few years, major renovations have been undertaken and completed to achieve this goal. In the Spring of 2005, the Medical Center opened a new Intensive care 30-bed unit, which now occupies the 8th floor of the Medical Center. This new unit brings together the latest unit design and monitoring technology to safeguard the lives of those in intensive care. Among the many design features of the new unit is larger rooms to accommodate specialized equipment necessary for critical care, a modular system that enables staff to rapidly move life-saving equipment to reach patient's quickly, a spacious family waiting area, central nurses stations with direct visualization between patients and nursing staff, and new state-of-the-art monitors that measure critical patient vital signs,which are considered among the best in the industry.

Additionally, the 8th Floor is also home to the new Cardiovascular Unit (CVU), which opened in September 2005. This unit has expanded to eight beds, and features larger rooms, specialized patient monitors and a family/visitor friendly environment. Our heart surgery patients are moved to and from CUU before and after surgery. Staff are specially trained to educate and care for our unique patient population as they go through "the before and after" surgery phase of their care.

In July 2005, St.Vincent's opened new state-of-the-art operating rooms. The surgical suite consolidates all major pre- and post-operative procedures areas. The new OR's includes eight pre-operative bays, 10 operating suites, and 12 Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) beds, Upgrades include a new endoscopy system for minimally invasive surgery, more space, advanced lighting and modular storage built-ins. These new facilities have allowed St. Vincent's to enter a new era of surgical services in addition to incorporating the latest technology and design standards.

St. Vincent's has also launched a new family member tracking system. This system was instituted to give family members up to the minute information about the patient and improve communication,while their loved one is in surgery. Family members are given beepers and have access to information in the lobby, along with more freedom to move about the Medical Center while they wait. It is just one more measure to make your stay with us all that more convenient.

In 2006, St. Vincent's was ranked in the top 5% of programs for coronary interventional procedures and five-star rated for CPI, heart attack, and atrial fibrillation by HealthGrades in 2006.

St. Vincent's is a leading provider of cardiac, cancer, psychiatric, orthopaedic and diagnostic services in Fairfield County. It has academic teaching affiliations with the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and with New York Medical College. St. Vincent's is owned by Ascension Health, the nation's largest Catholic healthcare system and third largest not-for-profit healthcare system.

For information on St. Vincent's call the toll-free Care Line at 1-877-255-SVHS (7847).