Funding Will Enable the Hospital to Renovate All of its 67 Patient Care Rooms

NANTICOKE - Today, Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) announced $381,000 for Mercy Special Care Hospital which will be used to renovate all of the 67 patient care rooms at the main hospital in Nanticoke as well as its satellite hospital in Scranton.  The funding was secured as a result of Congressman Kanjorski's efforts in the Omnibus Appropriations bill which was enacted on March 11.  The upgrades will improve patient rooms by updating much of the equipment including beds, improving patient safety, and enabling more patient privacy.

"The renovations to patient care rooms at Mercy Special Care Hospital will provide needed improvements for patients and caregivers," said Congressman Kanjorski.  "With this federal funding, the hospital will be able to improve patient safety and enable caregivers to more easily complete needed examinations.  Mercy Special Care Hospital is a valuable resource in Northeastern Pennsylvania for those needing extensive inpatient services.  With new beds and furniture for the rooms, patients will receive their care in a more comfortable environment and caregivers will be able to more easily take care of the patients."

"Congressman Kanjorski was instrumental in allocating to Mercy Special Care Hospital nearly $400,000 in funds to make the necessary equipment upgrades and replacements to our Nanticoke and Scranton facilities," said Robert Williams, Mercy Special Care Hospital Administrator.  "With these funds we will have state of the art hospital beds specifically designed to reduce falls and provide a safer environment for our patients and our staff.  We will also have the latest in furnishings, allowing patients to more easily move about and adjust, particularly for those requiring assistance."

The federal funding will provide new patient beds to improve safety as they are low to the ground, enable patients to exit the beds more easily, and reduce falls.  The beds will also adjust with less difficulty, allowing caregivers to complete routines tasks more easily and increasing comfort for the patients.  The beds contain a three level exit system which will enable patients to move with less trouble for necessary treatments.  Safety features built into the beds also allow caregivers to monitor for potentially unsafe situations from other locations through various alerts.

In addition to new beds, many patient rooms will also receive upgraded tables and cabinets that move more easily and provide additional workspace for equipment and supplies.  Improved chairs will increase patient comfort in the rooms.

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