Motor City Electric Co. was selected as the electrical contractor to construct a new contemporary design, eight-story bed patient tower at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital. The South Patient Tower initially includes 204 private rooms and is considered the country’s most technologically integrated healing environment.

Intelligent Care System

The 301,000 sq. ft. building features the Intelligent Care System, the first of its kind, which provides essential tools for hospital staff. These tools allow them to give the finest inpatient care, comfort, safety, and satisfaction. The state-of-the-art integrated technology includes continuous patient vitals, support fall prevention, and direct voice communication between nursing staff and patients.

The Intelligent Care System includes features such as sensors attached to handwashing stations that identify caregivers using a radio signal as they enter and exit rooms, alerts from in-room equipment, such as cardiac monitors, and the patients’ remote controls include buttons for pain and other complaints that send signals to staff iPhones. Additionally, intelligent beds with patients’ electronic health record alert staff when a patient who is at risk for falling tries to get out of bed.

All of this new technology is, of course, powered by electricity. From building electrical rooms and installing switchgear to running conduit and splicing cable, Motor City Electric Co. helped St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital create an efficient, safe, and inviting environment.

Patient and Family Friendly

Families and friends were also factored into the design for the new tower that includes amenities such as complimentary Wi-Fi. There is a family zone in each patient room, sofa beds with a flip-up table, and personal speakers so visitors can read or watch TV without disturbing patients.

The unique healing environment of the South Patient Tower includes an inviting lobby with a large fireplace, skylights, convenience and gift stores, and a pharmacy. The decor consists of original Michigan artists, including Monty Nagler, Carl Sams II, and Darcel Daneau.