Behavioral Health Unit Tour

Behavioral Health Unit Tour

I am Eric Janson the director of Behavioral Services at Cayuga Medical Center for the last several years Cayuga Medical Center has created a plan to upgrade our behavioral health inpatient facilities then in the fall of 2017 construction began on the project that would add more than six thousand square feet of space dedicated to enhance patient care and to fully renovate all the remaining space in our Behavioral Services Unit the plan included moving to an open concept with increased natural light and improved spaces for individualized one-on-one care and wellness patient rooms are renovated and constructed with first-class materials including ceramic tile calming colors premium fixtures large windows to allow for more natural light and improve safety offices and meeting spaces were constructed on the unit to allow patients improve access to their care team and to improve team communication new space for treatment team meetings as well as space for group psychotherapy family and team meetings was also added and future construction phases smaller consultation rooms allowing for individual privacy for examination or consultation will be added common spaces are the most important exciting aspects of the new construction since patients on the behavioral health service unit are encouraged to be out of their rooms in to participate in various unit activities the addition of improved common areas most directly impacts patient care one of the major accomplishments of the new space construction is the milieu area which includes three separate areas the porch the television or sitting area and the dining and Recreation Area we’ve incorporated this open-air concept into other sitting areas in the milieu by providing areas with large windows with sweeping views of Cayuga Lake and the surrounding Valley in order to provide an opportunity for patients to have more private conversations and to be able to relax in quiet contemplation the space is also constructed so that sound is absorbed along multiple groups or conversations go on at the same time without disrupting other groups we’ve also added technology to this space that includes the addition of Apple TV to deliver cinema therapy and to support learning activities for patients on the unit with the new technology we can deliver a broader range of programming targeted to our patients needs we can also provide music or relaxing sounds through the speaker’s integrated into the ceiling thus creating a calming welcoming and therapeutic environment another feature of our construction and the renovation is the inclusion of open concept nursing stations one station is located in the you space and the other stations closer to the dormitory area each station is half height walls that encourage patients to approach to have their needs met and encourage your staff to be more available to patients to help meet their needs the Wellness room is an innovation it is space designed to promote wellness through exercise relaxation and comfort it provides an additional area for programming like yoga relaxation and guided visual imagery or stress reduction this space is available 24 hours a day and can be used by an individual and allow for privacy while being monitored by staff the quiet comfort room is adjacent to the main nurse’s station and incorporates floor-to-ceiling windows that allow an abundance of natural light it is configured to provide an opportunity to enhance one-to-one conversations or small family meetings in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere [Music]

Learn about the renovation and expansion of our Behavioral Health Unit