As it answers the call for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, Truman Medical Center (TMC) - Lakewood is simultaneously managing new services and $7.7 million in new infrastructure.
Since early 2020, the Lee's Summit, Mo. community hospital has been busy caring for COVID-19 patients, conducting testing and vaccination clinics and managing the Jackson County Health Department, all of which revealed the need for changes.
Construction is currently in progress for seven private isolation rooms and a dedicated nursing station in its north inpatient unit. TMC said the addition is in response to the urgent need for dedicated isolation rooms with negative-airflow rooms, designed to meticulously control the pressure and airflow so that contaminated air does not flow inside or outside of the room, even when someone opens the door
In addition to the rooms, the hospital has invested in a new chiller plant. The rooms are expected to be available to patients beginning in March 2021. Also in March, the hospital plans to launch a new E-ICU in partnership with Hicuity. The E-ICU will allow the critical care physician to care for patients remotely.
Recent, unrelated-COVID additions include the October 2020 opening of the Center for Sleep Health. The new, four-bed sleep lab is located off-campus at the Stoney Creek Hotel in Independence, Mo. The sleep lab will allow TMC to provide convenient access to sleep studies for the Eastern Jackson County Area.
The dermatology services are also moving from the main campus to a free-standing imaging center in the 40-highway corridor in Independence.
In addition to new sites and services, TMC has also begun a new Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) training program with the Full Employment Council and the University of Central Missouri. As part of the partnership, TMC provides healthcare job skills training - a skill that continues to be in high-demand. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for CNAs is expected to grow by 8 percent between 2019 and 2029.
The pilot class included 13 students, with eight of them advancing to graduation. One of the greatest needs for CNA staff at TMC is at the 188-bed long-term care center on campus, which has also seen changes the past year.
TMC Lakewood's COO, Lynette Wheeler, is the consulting administrator for the care center and last year earned her license as a nursing home administrator.
Partners on the above mentioned projects include McCownGordon, Stanger Industries, Heartland Electric, Control Service Company, Alexander Mechanical Inc. and Henderson Building Solutions.