Source: Technology drives patient care as The Avenues Clinic unveils upgraded Critical Care Unit – herald
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE Avenues Clinic is embracing advanced medical technology to improve patient outcomes following the commissioning of a newly upgraded Intensive Care Unit (ICU), High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Coronary Care Unit (CCU) as part of a US$500 000 investment in critical care services.
The investment, which forms part of a US$4 million hospital-wide refurbishment programme, has seen the installation of advanced patient monitoring systems, integrated bedside medical gas and power outlets, moisture detection technology and expanded dialysis capacity aimed at enhancing the quality, safety and efficiency of care for critically ill patients.
Speaking at the opening of the upgraded unit on Monday, The Avenues Clinic managing director Mrs Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu said the hospital was leveraging technology to deliver better clinical outcomes while improving the working environment for healthcare workers.
“We are using technology to help them do their work. They are less stressed; they can just check the monitor, and then they can come and attend to the patient,” she said.
Mrs Ndhlovu said the refurbished unit has been fitted with new Mindray patient monitors and redesigned bed-head systems that centralise medical gases, electrical outlets and monitoring equipment at each bedside.
“What this simply means is that all our machines are on one point. We are not sharing plugs and, in terms of safety for the patient and good clinical outcomes, we now have it all here,” she said.
The hospital has also introduced moisture detection devices placed beneath patients’ mattresses to alert nurses immediately when critically ill patients require urgent attention.
“Patients who are very sick normally cannot assist themselves. This will help the nurse to know when something is happening with this patient so they will quickly come and attend to them,” said Mrs Ndhlovu.
Another major upgrade is the expansion of dialysis access points within the ICU, HDU and CCU from one to 13, allowing patients requiring dialysis to receive treatment without being transferred between beds.
Mrs Ndhlovu said the hospital was committed to continuously investing in technology and infrastructure to ensure Zimbabweans have access to world-class healthcare locally.
The Avenues Clinic financial controller, Mr Oscar Maradzamunda, said the hospital has invested US$500 000 in upgrading the critical care unit, bringing total expenditure on its refurbishment programme to approximately US$4 million.
“For this investment, we spent half a million on this critical unit, and this investment was to upgrade our infrastructure, our equipment as well as the bedding,” he said.
“To date, we have managed to spend about US$4 million into the refurbishment of the whole hospital.”
Mr Maradzamunda said the hospital’s next phase of modernisation will focus on upgrading its operating theatres in the coming quarter.
He said the investments were intended to complement Government efforts to strengthen the country’s health sector by improving access to modern healthcare services.
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