Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton, S.D., has begun a $3.5 million, year-long renovation project to update its patient care rooms, according to a Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan report.
As per the renovation design plans, the patient rooms will have larger handicap-accessible bathrooms, reconfigured headwalls, new windows, an updated call light system and new furnishings.
Doug Ekeren, president and CEO of Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, told the Yankton Daily that the renovation will also decrease the number of beds from 105 to 80-something due to a waning inpatient utilization rates.
"We have been planning this for several years. We must improve our rooms to meet the expectations of our patients," said Mr. Ekeren. "They are requesting private rooms with enhanced amenities, and we can do this in a manner that will also improve patient and staff safety."
The renovations will be completed in four phases — one phase per hospital wing — with each taking approximately three months.