Macon's Medical Center opens renovated observation unit

The Medical Center, Navicent Health, opened its renovated Medical Observation Unit to give patients nicer amenities and better access to care.

The hospital celebrated the opening Friday.

The unit is dedicated for patients with a variety of diagnoses who are admitted for observation for 24 hours or less, according to a news release.

Patients will have access to 16 private rooms with more comfortable beds, large screen televisions and direct access to restrooms with toilets and showers in the newly renovated unit. It also includes additional space and upgraded computer technology for physicians and clinical staff in the room with the patient. The addition of decentralized nursing stations also permits clinicians to be closer to and more accessible to each patient.

"Although patients do not stay in the MOU for an extended period of time, we want to ensure that they receive care in a warm, comforting and kind environment," Ninfa Saunders, President/CEO of Navicent Health, said in a statement. "The renovations to the MOU ensure that each patient receives attentive, high quality care in an environment that feels a bit more like home."

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223, or follow her on Twitter@MidGaBiz.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 5:36 PM with the headline "Macon's Medical Center opens renovated observation unit ."