MONTREAL – The final transfer into the Jewish General Hospital’s (JGH) new acute-care wing, Pavilion K, proceeded according to plan, West-Central Montreal Health reported.

On Jan. 24, 203 patients were brought to their new rooms over a 5-1/2-hour period. The transfer was carried out at a rate of one patient every 2-1/2 minutes, except for those in critical condition, who were moved every five minutes, the agency said.

The patient transfer was the culmination of six days of transition during which staff worked to get equipment in place.

READ: JEWISH GENERAL HOSPITAL’S NEW $429-MILLION PAVILION OPENS

“Teamwork is what made this day such a success and also helped the process of planning and preparing for the move to run so smoothly,” said Joanne Côté, director of the transition.

“Staff members from all departments and all fields of health care came together to make sure that our patients were moved as safely, comfortably and quickly as possible, with little or no interruption in their care.”

Jan. 24 was also the first day the new building was open to the public.

The 18 departments relocated are now in operation in the 10-storey facility, which has a total surface area of 55,000 square metres and boasts the latest equipment and technology.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services contributed $423 million to the construction, which took five years, while the Jewish General Hospital continues to raise money to cover the cost of acquiring the interior furnishings.

Later this year, the hospital cafeteria will be relocated to the main lobby of the pavilion. It will be designed as a food court, and include five kiosks serving different kinds of food.

Dr. Lawrence Rosenberg, president and CEO of West-Central Montreal Health, said patients’ experience at the JGH will be considerably improved with the new pavilion.

Having well-ventilated, single-bed patient rooms should reduce the risk of infection, he said, as well as better preserve privacy and dignity.

The pavilion houses the surgical, neonatal and intensive and coronary care units, a total of 60 per cent of the hospital’s clinical activities. The emergency department opened two years ago.

READ: AGENCY DENIES JGH’S CHILD PSYCHIATRY UNIT IS CLOSING

While the total number of beds at the JGH overall remains the same – 637 – it now has 18 operating rooms, five more than before.

Entrance to the parking lot is on de la Peltrie Street, facing the pavilion’s main entrance at 5757 Légaré St. From the indoor parking lot, take the elevator to level S1. From the older section of the JGH, Pavilion K is accessible via Pavilion E at level S1. n