St. Catherine Hospital ICU Project Earns Commercial Construction Project of the Year Honor

St. Catherine Hospital ICU Project Earns Commercial Construction Project of the Year Honor

St. Catherine Hospital’s newly redesigned Intensive Care Unit (ICU) has earned the Commercial Construction Project of the Year Award from NWI Construction Advancement Foundation. The award was presented May 11 at a gathering of business and construction industry leaders at Avalon Manor, Merrillville.

“This project is a reflection of solid construction performance by the general contractor for this project and a team of more than 75 craftspeople,” said St. Catherine Hospital CEO Leo Correa. “It represents collaboration and commitment by Community Healthcare System and St. Catherine Hospital to work in concert to elevate the environment of care for our most vulnerable patients.”

The new 9,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art ICU reopened in December 2016 after a multimillion-dollar, floor-to-ceiling renovation by The Pangere Corporation of Gary.

“This construction project provides our nurses, physicians and their patients with the finest care systems, technology and equipment among hospitals in Northwest Indiana,” Correa said.

The ICU, which previously functioned with two eight-room modules, was reshaped to create an open unit filled with natural light. It features an oval, glasswork station for panoramic, 360-degree view of all patient rooms.

Patient beds were repositioned and electrical panels for vital equipment relocated to enhance medical response and treatment efficiencies. The unit includes skylights, ceiling-mounted privacy doors, an isolation suite, respiratory room and easy access to personal protective equipment and patient lifts.

All fabric and materials in the unit are made of an antimicrobial substance to help reinforce infection control and a sterile environment. Visitor comforts were enhanced with added noise reduction design materials, recliners and sleeper couches for 24-hour, bedside visitation.

“It was a privilege to work on a project as meaningful as the ICU,” said Steve Pangere, president of The Pangere Corp., which was named Commercial Contractor of the Year at the May 11 awards ceremony.

Pangere said the project was unique, not only for its design, but for meeting a timely project schedule with high healthcare safety standards. The ICU operated in a temporary setting that was retrofit to accommodate patients during construction.

“Working on a project of this magnitude, with such a demanding schedule gave our carpenters and subcontractors an opportunity to show the high level of skill they possess,” Pangere said. Every carpenter on the project was trained in Infection Control and Risk Assessment to meet the needs of the healthcare clients.

Correa congratulated Pangere on their accomplishments, as well as the healthcare team led by Chief Nursing Officer Paula Swenson who led a seamless transition in patient care as the state-of-the-art unit was completed.

To learn more about St. Catherine Hospital and the Community Healthcare System, visit www.comhs.org.