Southcoast Health expands ICU capacity at St. Luke’s in New Bedford

April 23, 2020 10:30 pm

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE)– Southcoast Health has doubled the size of the Intensive Care Unit at St. Luke’s Hospital, according to a statement the company released Thursday.

The expansion brings 16 more beds in 440-square foot rooms, and adds video monitoring of patients and enhanced communication with nurses, among other features.

The addition had been planned already, but was accelerated by at least a month to meet the demands of the COVID-19 surge, the company said.

The facility held a “virtual ribbon-cutting” earlier this week to mark the occasion.

“This new ICU is important for our trauma and critical care patients and staff,” said Maria Tassoni, a nurse manager at the facility. “It’s more modern, more spacious, and more accessible. We’re thankful to everyone who has worked on this project. It’s been a group effort, and all involved have been tremendous.”

The space will later be repurposed for surgical and other medical patients, the company said.