Avenues Clinic invests US$500,000 to upgrade critical care units

Managing Director Sibusisiwe Ndhlovu said the investment will improve patient safety, clinical outcomes and the working environment for staff.

The upgrade includes new critical-care infrastructure and technology, such as additional dialysis points, modern patient monitoring systems and improved bed-head units that provide centralised access to medical gases, power and monitoring equipment.

“We have done quite a number of improvements here. We have Mindray monitors and have changed the bed heads, which is where the various gases and monitors are plugged in,” Ndhlovu said.

“What this means is that all our equipment is now in one point. We are not sharing plugs, which improves safety for the patient and also contributes to better clinical outcomes.”

The upgraded unit also includes moisture detection technology to help nurses monitor patients who are unable to alert staff when they need assistance.

Ndhlovu said the technology will ease pressure on nurses while ensuring patients receive timely attention.

One of the most significant improvements is the expansion of dialysis access. The ICU, CCU and HDU previously shared a single dialysis point, meaning patients sometimes had to be moved to another area to receive treatment. The units now have 13 dialysis points.

Ndhlovu said the expansion will allow the clinic to accommodate more patients and reduce the need to move critically ill patients between departments.

Financial Controller Oscar Maradzamunda said the investment forms part of a broader programme to modernise the hospital.

“We spent half a million dollars on this critical care unit. This investment was to upgrade our infrastructure, equipment and bedding,” Maradzamunda said.

“To date, we have managed to spend about US$4 million on the refurbishment of the whole hospital.”

He said the clinic’s next major project will be upgrading its theatres, with work expected to start in the coming quarter.