Over the next 18 months, a series of extensive renovations—totaling nearly $35 million—will dramatically improve the overall patient experience at NSMC Salem Hospital.

“These renovations will provide patients with more privacy and space and bring the quality of our facilities in line with the outstanding clinical care we provide,” said Robert Norton, President and CEO of North Shore Medical Center. Coordinating with the expected opening of the new ambulatory care center in Danvers being developed by NSMC and Massachusetts General Hospital, the renovations are expected to be completed by January 2009.

NSMC will replace its current 16-bed intensive care unit (ICU), built in 1972, with a new 20-bed ICU. The new unit’s spacious, family-friendly waiting and treatment areas, modern features, and natural lighting will enhance both the quality of care and overall ambiance of the ICU. In addition, larger rooms will be better able to accommodate today’s healthcare technology and equipment.

Responding to a growing patient preference for private rooms, NSMC will move two adult medical/surgical floors to two newly constructed floors of private rooms. The 32 rooms will be equipped with private bathrooms, window-seating sleeping areas for family members and wireless Internet for patients who want to be able to work or connect to family while recovering from elective surgery. At the end of construction, nearly half the beds at NSMC Salem Hospital will be in private rooms.

The pediatric inpatient unit will be moved out of NSMC North Shore Children’s Hospital to a new 12-room floor in NSMC Salem Hospital. All rooms will be private, have their own bathrooms and will have sleeping facilities for parents. A new, expanded Level II Special Care Nursery will be located in the same building, which also houses the maternity unit, providing a central location for women and children’s care.

The renovations also include an expansion of NSMC Salem Hospital’s radiology department, providing additional private waiting areas for patients, and the re-location and expansion of the mammography service. It its new space, the comprehensive breast health program will continue to provide patients everything from screening and diagnostic mammography to advanced biopsy procedures all in one patient-sensitive, convenient location.

NSMC (North Shore Medical Center) is a multi-site health system headquartered in Salem, Mass., which includes NSMC Salem Hospital, NSMC Union Hospital in Lynn, NSMC North Shore Children’s Hospital, NSMC Cancer Center in Peabody, NSMC Heart Center, NSMC Women’s Center in Danvers and the physician network known as Charter Professional Services Corporation. NSMC is a member of Partners HealthCare, which was founded by Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. For more information, visit our website at nsmc.partners.org