Elliot Health System Expands Capacity for Critical Care With Opening of Adult Step-Down Unit

Elliot Health System is celebrating the opening of its new, 12-bed Adult Step-Down Unit. The newly renovated space, on the fifth floor of the hospital, opened for patient care on Tuesday, March 17. It will expand Elliot Hospital’s capacity to serve patients who have varying critical care needs and need a higher level of hospital-based services.
 
President and Chief Executive Officer of Elliot Health System, Dr. Gregory Baxter, said, “As Southern New Hampshire’s comprehensive provider of cardiac services and Greater Manchester’s only Level II Trauma Center, opening a designated unit specifically designed for patients who no longer need our highest-level, around-the-clock bedside care is a logical step. This new unit allows our highly skilled physicians, nurses, and advanced practice clinicians to tailor the level of critical care needed for each patient, opens beds for our most vulnerable adult patients, creates a space for our open-heart surgery patients to heal, and brings patients with improved health one step closer to going home.”

“Our unit’s comprehensive and progressive design is thoughtful, which allows us to deliver exemplary care to patients who still need considerable care,” shared Martha Dodge, RN, chief nursing executive and senior vice president of patient care services. “For example, the unit features workstations between patient rooms that include small windows. This allows employees to constantly observe patients without going in and out of their rooms and possibly disturbing the rest they need to heal.

An open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Step-Down Unit was held Monday, March 16. Elliot Health System leaders were joined by members of the care, design and construction teams as well as business and community leaders including Mayor Jay Ruais and representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Maggie Hassan and Senator Shaheen.