MS Clinic Settles into New Home

The double doors of the new clinic space for the Andrew C. Carlos Multiple Sclerosis Institute open into a beautiful, bright corridor. Honey-colored wood-grain floors run throughout, and sliding doors with botanical-themed frosted glass panels open to rooms that can be used for exams or infusions.

Incredibly, the MS Clinic team moved to the new space without missing a beat.

“We didn't close,” says Rebecca Duguid, PT, DPT, program manager for the MS Institute. “We treated patients the whole time.”

That meant getting used to new processes and systems while keeping the clinic running.

Wanda Bagley, RN, BSN, MSCN, MS infusion coordinator, says the transition was smooth.

“Everybody just jumped on board and started moving and setting up things and just trying to get stuff as organized as possible. And the next day we had our grand opening, so to speak, and just hit the ground running.”

The function of the new space is just as appealing as the aesthetic form. Here are some of the highlights:

Universal-design rooms

There are 26 universal-design rooms for exams or infusions, each outfitted with a lie-flat chair and a flat-screen TV for patients, as well as a point-of-service computer for the care team. The lighting can also be adjusted based on patient preference.

“I think the privacy of the rooms is a big win,” says Duguid. “And the universal infusion chairs that we have now, which patients can sit in, sleep in — they're very comfortable.”

Before the move, infusions, which can take anywhere from two to six hours, took place in an open space. The new individual rooms offer more space, comfort, and privacy. While some patients miss the camaraderie of a community space, now, they can bring visitors to sit with them during their infusion appointments, something that has rarely been possible since the COVID pandemic.

And the new reclining chairs have been a big hit with patients.

“We've had the recliners before, but these are chef's kiss,” says Bagley. “It's all electronic, so it can go completely flat like a bed … There's a zero-gravity function on the chair, which is just phenomenal because it takes all the pressure off of your lower back. There's a little fold-over table so patients can eat, or if they want to work, they have a space, and we also have a separate table that we can work on.”

Centralized nursing station and call light system

The rooms surround a central nursing station. Before, infusion nurses were in a separate area; now, all the nurses work in one large space, fostering communication and collaboration.

“With all of us sharing a nurses station space, there's always somebody around to be able to lend a hand, so that's helpful,” says Bagley.

Plus, a new call-light system allows patients and staff to alert one another if they need assistance. “We make heavy use of the call light system — whenever a patient or a staff member needs help. Before, I would have to run out to find somebody,” Bagley explains. “Now, we have this option, and I can have somebody come to me.”

Integrated equipment

New Hoyer lifts can charge at any point along the ceiling track, allowing staff to safely move patients anywhere in the clinic and from their wheelchairs to the new infusion chairs.

A 25-foot flooring inlay allows staff to assess patients’ gait as part of the standardized Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite, an aesthetically pleasing combination of form and function.

Streamlined appointments with patient status updates

A digital status board by the nurses’ station provides real-time updates on scheduled appointments as they progress, and nurses can alert providers electronically when a patient is ready to see them.

Creature comforts

In addition to the reclining chairs and adjustable lighting, the team paid attention to other details that increase patient comfort.

There’s a space equipped with a coffee maker, refrigerator, and microwave, so patients who have long infusion appointments can chill or warm up a meal.

“We kept all of our amenities like our heated blankets and the snacks that we offer to the patients,” says Bagley.

Cabinets stocked with necessary supplies are in each room, so patient care supplies are at the team’s fingertips.

Robin Harris, who has been a patient at the MS Clinic for several years, says she likes the new space and the care she receives there.

“I really like the way that is set up because you're in your own little private room. And it's nice … It's more spacious, which is perfect. And as far as the care, the care is still there. I mean, the nurses come around and they're checking on you. And it's like you're never alone — someone is always right there if you need them.”

Written by Ruth Underwood