St. Francis Hospice Facilities Undergoing Renovations to Better Serve Patients and Families
St. Francis Hospice’s two facilities will soon have a fresh, new look and the latest in communications technology to maintain our leadership position in the community and to anticipate the increased demand for hospice services.
This major modernization project coincides with the 30th anniversary of the St. Francis Hospice program. Architects Pacific, Inc. is providing the architectural design, and Tomco Corp. is the contractor.
New Technology to Enhance Patient Well-Being
A number of new features are intended to enhance the safety and quality of life for our hospice patients. Technology will enable patients to maintain strong ties with their family and friends, especially those living on the Mainland and neighbor islands who cannot visit as often, with Internet connections. Patient rooms at both locations will feature new patient beds for additional safety and comfort, and flat screen TV monitors with state-of-the-art interactive patient television systems for a variety of on-demand entertainment and information.
Extensive Renovations, Both Inside and Out
In addition to the technology upgrades, the Sister Maureen Keleher Center in Nuuanu is undergoing extensive renovations and patients are being temporarily relocated to Hawaii Medical Center East (formerly St. Francis Medical Center) through October. The Nuuanu facility was originally a two-story home built in 1917 that St. Francis acquired, restored and turned into a beautiful hospice facility in 1988.
Showing its wear and tear on the outside, the facility’s siding, roofing and gutters all need to be replaced. The termite damaged windowsills and frames as well as the asphalt driveways need repair. The project also includes exterior and interior painting and landscaping.
On the inside, work includes a redesigned nurses’ station to improve work processes, a new entry, new lighting and wood flooring in the living room, and air conditioning in the chapel. The kitchen, pantry and dining room will also be upgraded, and the first floor restroom will be renovated to become ADA compliant. The flooring, lighting and air conditioning in the patient rooms will be replaced.
The Maurice J. Sullivan Family Hospice Center in Ewa Beach, the newer of the two hospice facilities, involves mainly cosmetic touch-ups. Furniture and window treatments at both locations will also be replaced, utilizing soothing, earthy colors.
Staff Relocation
In addition to the temporary relocation of the Nuuanu patients to Hawaii Medical Center East, the administrative and home hospice staff, formerly housed at the Nuuanu facility, have moved to the Paiko Building , Rooms 406 and 408. When construction is completed, most of the staff will remain at the Paiko offices.