Mazankowski Heart Centre Converts to Vernacare
Vernacare System Convert
Mazankowski Heart Centre Converts to Vernacare
On May 1, 2008, Western Canada's first and only dedicated heart surgery centre opened its doors to serve Western Canada and the far North. Named after former Deputy Prime Minister, the Right Honourable Don Mazankowski, this innovative LEED silver centre, and new Vernacare customer, handles both adult and pediatric heart patients.
Working in partnership with the University of Alberta, the government of Alberta has created a state-of-the-art facility. With 6 Operating Rooms (4 adult, 1 pediatric and 1 hybrid) and 124+ beds, this 62,000 sq. metre facility offers the latest in technological advances. Its leading edge, oversized ORs offer direct links to CT scans and MRI images; have a complex air system that circulates fresh air 25 to 28 times per hour for increased sterilization and infection control; and features a hybrid operating room where surgeons, radiologists and cardiologists can work around the patient table at the same time.
Add technology like a $1.2 million "Cave" where doctors and researchers can examine virtual or holographic images of the heart and perhaps one day practice their operations on images; patient rooms separated by sliding, frosted glass doors instead of curtains to increase privacy and reduce cross contamination; patient bedside computers that are fully interactive; and a giant "megavator", almost 3 square metres larger than a regular hospital elevator, that can make the ride from the rooftop helipad to the emergency room in 26 seconds and you have the future of cardiac healthcare now.
Keeping with the Institute's desire to use the most current and the most innovative technology for their new facility, the steering committee at the Maz specifically chose Vernacare's human waste management system as the standard practice for the new facility. After running impartial trials at Edmonton's Royal Alexander Hospital in both ER and in a regular medical ward, the results were overwhelmingly in favour of the Vernacare system.
According to Carol Manson-McLeod, Senior Operating Officer, while infection control was a strong component of the decision, Vernacare's ability to "increase the quality of work life for the nursing staff" was a major factor. In fact Carol commented that nurses visiting the Maz Open House remarked that "the Vernacare system was the best part of the Maz."
Vernacare is very happy with the response from the staffing team and are proud to be part of The Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and its ongoing commitment to the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease.
