Author: Sherry Farney
For the fourth consecutive year, McLaren Flint is renovating large areas throughout the hospital and additional offices on its campus, not only to update their look but also to reflect the quality of care given by the clinical staff.
It all began in fall of 2018 on 2 North, which houses the cardiac catheterization labs and radiology department. The project included adding two new heart catheterization labs, separating pre- and post-patient procedure areas for improved care, creating a shared waiting area for the two departments, and updating the entire main hallway from one end of the hospital to the other with new flooring, paint, and artwork. This was just the beginning of what was to come.
The main lobby and the main floor of the hospital were next up for an extreme makeover. For anyone who hasn’t been to the hospital over the past two years when most of the work was completed, they would notice dramatic changes. Additional renovations include 10 patient rooms in the McLaren Family BirthPlace, as well as the waiting room and nurses’ station. New flooring, paint, and artwork can now be seen throughout the hallways. The third floor of the hospital received the same treatment as both the main and second floors. In addition, the family surgical waiting room was updated. In surgical services, two heart operating rooms were completely updated, which included technology upgrades.
The hospitals’ Chapel is now remodeled and known as the Reflection Room, a hospice suite was created and completed on 11 South in December for those receiving end-of-life care. Additionally, two new elevators were installed in the visitor parking ramp, and more safety technology is coming to the ramp later this year.
These projects are never normal undertakings when you have a very large facility that never shuts down.
“Multiple planning meetings take place before any work begins,” said Matt LeGault, chief operating officer at McLaren Flint. “Our goal is to create as little disruption to our patients, visitors, and staff as possible. Constant communication and coordination between the construction team, hospital administration, our engineering department, and the leadership from the department where the work is being done, are the key to the success of each project.”
Off-site renovations in 2021 included McLaren Flint’s Specialty Clinic, which is located in Beech Hill Center about one-quarter-mile west of the hospital. This facility houses the hospital’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, wound care services including hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a sleep center, an infectious disease clinic, and a pain clinic. New exam rooms were added to meet additional patient needs, and new flooring, paint, and entrance doors were also among the upgrades.
A very large renovation project at the hospital is currently nearing its completion. The Emergency Department, which had to be broken down into several renovation phases due to its size, has reached its final phasein the waiting area. This important patient entrance into the hospital will not only be remodeled, but it is also being reconfigured for patient flow. More details and photos will be shared with the community soon.
McLaren Fenton, located at 2420 Owen Road in Fenton, also received a complete building renovation in order to build a brand-new emergency department that opened in the spring of 2020. The facility also houses family and internal medicine physicians; a nurse midwife; ear, nose, and throat specialists; comprehensive imaging services including MRI; and an outpatient lab. There are more expansion plans in the works for this site.
McLaren Flint will begin a multi-million-dollar renovation and construction project planned to launch this spring. The hospital is looking forward to sharing details about it soon. Follow McLaren Flint on Facebook or visit the news section on the homepage of the hospital’s website at mclaren.org/flint for information about future facility renovations.