Maroondah Hospital Projects

 Progress at December 2006

Medical Imaging & infrastructure upgrades

Stage 1 of the Medical Imaging redevelopment is nearing completion and is expected to become operational in mid to late February 2007. Upon completion of Stage 1, Stage 2 & 3 will commence which include the development of a new patient holding and observation area (10 beds/chairs), another new general imaging room, and refurbishment of selected parts of the existing Department. The final stage (Stage 3) involves installation of new medical imaging facilities into two resuscitation rooms in the Emergency Department and the construction of a new Reception desk and associated areas.

A new elevator has now been installed and is operational. The first of the existing elevators has been upgraded and it also is back in operation. Upgrade work has commenced on the next elevator, with all elevator works expected to be completed by February 2007.

Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (ECASA) Crisis Unit

The new ECASA Unit is close to completion with building works in there final stages. The hospital is preparing for building ‘hand-over’ with services scheduled to commence soon there after.

Dialysis Unit

Development of the Dialysis Unit is advancing well with the functional brief and business case for the new service on track. Construction is expected to commence in early 2007. The hospital is working with our community partners in developing this new service for the community of the outer eastern region of Melbourne.

The development of renal dialysis services in Eastern Health is an exciting commitment to the expansion of renal services in both the inner and outer regions of our catchment area. The new Unit at Maroondah will complement a new dialysis service at Box Hill in development as part of the Stage 1 hospital development. Eastern Health is currently developing a model of care to ensure that an optimal and co-ordinated renal service is available across the outer east part of Melbourne.

Adult Inpatient Unit

Site establishment and construction of the new Adult Inpatient Unit on the corner of Mt Dandenong Road and Grey Street began in October 2006. Window screenings have been fitted to the adjacent Adolescent inpatient unit as a protective measure and excavation of the site is well underway. In the coming months, there is work to be done in establishing essential services for the new unit such as sewer & drainage systems and electrical infrastructure and work on the new lift shaft will also commence. Fortnightly site meetings have been established to bring together building contractors, building consultants and staff within Eastern Health so that the project is carefully managed.

To facilitate the construction of this facility, the Child and Adolescent Day Program has been relocated to the Wundeela Centre. In July 2007, the Adolescent Inpatient Unit is scheduled to relocate to a brand new, purpose designed and built facility at Box Hill Hospital (see Box Hill Hospital). Not only is this an exciting development for the Adolescent Inpatient Unit, the vacated space will also provide an interim area for adult inpatients to be accommodated while stage 2 building works progress at Maroondah Hospital.

 Media Releases

 Images

Cr Robert Chong OAM, Eastern Health Board Member, Health Minister Bronwyn Pike MP and Hospital General Manager Zoltan Kokai celebrate the announcement of a new Dialysis Unit for the Hospital. October 2006

Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault Crisis Centre

Dr Tracey Batten, Eastern Health Chief Executive, Dympna Beard, Member for Kilsyth, The Hon Bronwyn Pike, join with Judy Flanagan ECASA Manager, Alister Maitland, Chair, Eastern Health Board and Maroondah Hospital General Manager Zoltan Kokai celebrate the announcement of the new Crisis Unit to be developed at the Hospital.

Medical imaging upgrade

Artists impression of the new waiting area of the Medical Imaging Department

Mental Health Adult Inpatient Unit

Artists impression of the Adult Inpatient Unit at Maroondah Hospital

 Progress background

Medical Imaging & infrastructure upgrades

Since 2002 Maroondah Hospital has undergone significant infrastructure upgrades to better meet the needs of the community. Works completed include a new Emergency Department, a new general medical ward and a new much awaited multi deck car park.

In early 2006 the hospital embarked on the Stage 2A redevelopment activity which includes the upgrade and expansion of the Medical Imaging Department and lift infrastructure. The current medical imaging department has inadequate space and facilities to cope with the increased demand the Hospital has experienced following the opening of the new Emergency Department and additional general medical ward in February 2004.

Stage 2A redevelopment works will enable the Medical Imaging department to better meet the current and future anticipated demand.

An upgrade of the existing lift infrastructure together with the installation of an additional new lift will further enable the hospital to transfer patients between the Emergency Department, Operating Theatres, Critical Care Unit and Wards in a more-timely manner.

The expansion works of the Medical Imaging Department will include:

• A new ultrasound room and consolidation of all ultrasound rooms into an ultrasound suite
• An additional general/trauma imaging room
• An additional mobile x-ray, additional mobile Image Intensification unit and an extension of the Picture Archive & Communications Systems (PACS) technology into the new facilities.
• Installation of imaging equipment into the new Emergency Department resuscitation rooms
• The co-location of the mammography and stereotactic biopsy rooms to form a breast imaging suite
• Addition of a new patient holding and monitoring area to accommodate 6 beds/trolleys and 4 patient chairs

The refurbishment work of the existing Medical Imaging Department will include:

• Upgrade of the reception area
• Refurbishment of selected and approved existing areas in the old department to compliment the new expansion and to maximise and facilitate workflows and patterns.
• The addition of staff offices and teaching amenities

In addition, the lift works include:

• The upgrade of the existing 3 main foyer elevators
• The installation of a new 4th main foyer lift (for patient bed use)
• The update/upgrade of relevant infrastructure, such as chillers etc

Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault Crisis Unit

The ECASA Crisis Care Unit will provide a 24 hour crisis care service that effectively meets the emotional, psychological, medical and legal needs of recent victim/survivors of sexual assault living in the eastern metropolitan region. The crisis care unit to be based at Maroondah Hospital will provide an environment, which promotes the safety, privacy, anonymity, comfort and dignity of victim/survivors.

Crisis Care Services include the provision of:

• Crisis counselling
• Access to emergency medical care, which may include a forensic examination for those victim/survivors reporting to police
• Emotional support
• Practical support, which includes provision of clothing, access to showering facilities, etc
• Information for victim/survivors and families
• Advocacy with police and other systems as required
• Organisation of follow up counselling/advocacy through ECASA

Dialysis Unit

The new 12-chair Dialysis Unit will be co-located with the hospital with development anticipated to commence in early to mid 2007. The new Unit will support the need for access to dialysis services to the community of the outer east.

The new service will be purpose designed providing specialist state-of-the-art dialysis care in a comfortable and pleasant environment. The service’s co-location with Maroondah Hospital further provides immediate access to emergency care and will be supported by readily accessible medical care.

Car parking for clients will be provided on-site.

Mental Health Adult Inpatient Unit

The Eastern Health Adult Mental Health program provides a range of services across the continuum of care for adults aged 16-64 years who are suffering from a serious mental illness. The services are delivered largely from over 20 community based sites across the central and outer east catchment of Melbourne.

Inpatient services are provided for those requiring more intensive treatment and care in a time of acute treatment or crisis and for whom care cannot be provided in a less restrictive environment in the community.

The majority of people seen in the services suffer from a psychotic illness such as schizophrenia, a mood disorder such as depression or a serious personality disorder.

For Maroondah Hospital, the opportunity to redevelop our existing 30 beds and expand with a further 20 new beds will:

• Improve access to acute beds for the adult population within their local area which also assists their families and carers
• Assist in timely access to beds from the emergency department
• Design a purpose built and functional unit for the outer east
• Further expand consultation liaison programs with our acute colleagues on this site
• Opportunity for clients of the Eastern region to receive their inpatient care within their local area improving access for families and carers

The Adult Inpatient Unit development is being carried out in stages to facilitate a smooth transition and ensure that patient services are not disrupted throughout the building works.

Stages 1 and 1A involve the construction of a new 25 bed unit and a proposed refurbishment of an interim area to accommodate another 10 patients. This is expected to be completed in March 2008.

Stage 2 involves the demolition of the existing Adult Inpatient Westward and construction of a second 25 bed unit. Once patients are moved into this second unit from the interim area, this will increase the total number of beds from 30 to 50.

For further information on developments at Maroondah Hospital, or just to provide feedback please contact Eastern Health Community Relations at community.relations@easternhealth.org.au