After months of construction, Carle Foundation Hospital’s new main entrance and lobby will open with new conveniences and features for patients, visitors and staff.
“This marks completion of the first of several phases of a multi-million investment will continue through 2021,” said Nick Crompton, executive director, Facilities Planning and Construction “The renovations will improve patient access and safety at the hospital. Specifically, the new main entrance will address vehicle flow and congestion at Orchard Street entrance.”
The renovations include the relocation of the Colwell Chapel, Carle Auxiliary Gift Shop and Information Services desk. Italso includes the addition of the 24-hour North Star Café, Carle Medical Supply and patient discharge waiting area designed with patient and visitor feedback.
“Reclining chairs and 24-hour coffee service may seem like luxuries until you stop and think – some families spend their worst days and nights here helping a loved one recover and heal,” said Lynne Barnes, senior vice president, Facilities, and chief operating officer, Carle Foundation Hospital. “Other times, these areas will help new parents with an extra shot of caffeine after a long night or a quiet place to help patients to decompress as they head home after a life-changing procedure.”
The renovations feature:
Carle Medical Supply (CMS)
The Urbana Carle Medical Supply location will offer a scaled-back product line to offer convenience to patients leaving the hospital.
“This store will have items like bipaps, crutches, boots, metal walkers, foot care, compression garments, seat cushions, bathroom-safety items, braces, pain therapy items, breast pumps, wound and surgical supplies,” said David Trinkle, CMS supervisor.
Auxiliary Gift Shop
The Carle Auxiliary Gift Shop will continue to carry hospital gift shop staples such as flowers, candy and baby items, but will expand offerings to make the shop a boutique destination.
Plus, an added bonus.
“Customers will be able to purchase cash and carry items from Carle Medical Supply at the gift shop after hours and on weekends,” said Eric Toliver, Auxiliary Services director. CMS will need to complete purchases requiring insurance billing during normal business hours.
North Star Café
The 24-hour North Star Café provides an upscale street restaurant-style experience.
Food Service Director Kevin Steffes said the café is significantly different than what many envision as hospital cafeteria style dining.
“We will offer freshly prepared menu items using clean label and locally-sourced (when possible) ingredients. We partnered with the Central Illinois Bakehouse to provide breads, baked goods and pizza dough,” he said.
The café will focus on better-for-you options like premium sandwiches prepared fresh daily, build-your-own salads, made-to-order brick oven pizza, freshly baked homemade cookies and handcrafted teas or lemonades. For those in a hurry, grab-and-go options will also be available, or they can use the Grub Hub mobile ordering app.
“Employees and visitors can place their order, pay for it, and just come in to pick it up,” said Steffes.
With the opening of North Star Café, the Orchard Street lobby coffee shop will close. South Clinic coffee bar service continues as normal. The lower level cafeteria café hours are now daily from 6 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The Orchard Street garage is open and will allow cars to exit onto Park Street until the outside construction is completed in summer 2020.
Valet parking is available at the main entrance and the Outpatient Services entrance (formerly main entrance) for people with mobility issues.
“This marks completion of the first of several phases of a multi-million investment will continue through 2021,” said Nick Crompton, executive director, Facilities Planning and Construction “The renovations will improve patient access and safety at the hospital. Specifically, the new main entrance will address vehicle flow and congestion at Orchard Street entrance.”
The renovations include the relocation of the Colwell Chapel, Carle Auxiliary Gift Shop and Information Services desk. Italso includes the addition of the 24-hour North Star Café, Carle Medical Supply and patient discharge waiting area designed with patient and visitor feedback.“Reclining chairs and 24-hour coffee service may seem like luxuries until you stop and think – some families spend their worst days and nights here helping a loved one recover and heal,” said Lynne Barnes, senior vice president, Facilities, and chief operating officer, Carle Foundation Hospital. “Other times, these areas will help new parents with an extra shot of caffeine after a long night or a quiet place to help patients to decompress as they head home after a life-changing procedure.”
The renovations feature:
Carle Medical Supply (CMS)
The Urbana Carle Medical Supply location will offer a scaled-back product line to offer convenience to patients leaving the hospital.
“This store will have items like bipaps, crutches, boots, metal walkers, foot care, compression garments, seat cushions, bathroom-safety items, braces, pain therapy items, breast pumps, wound and surgical supplies,” said David Trinkle, CMS supervisor.
Auxiliary Gift Shop
The Carle Auxiliary Gift Shop will continue to carry hospital gift shop staples such as flowers, candy and baby items, but will expand offerings to make the shop a boutique destination.
Plus, an added bonus.
“Customers will be able to purchase cash and carry items from Carle Medical Supply at the gift shop after hours and on weekends,” said Eric Toliver, Auxiliary Services director. CMS will need to complete purchases requiring insurance billing during normal business hours.
North Star Café
The 24-hour North Star Café provides an upscale street restaurant-style experience.
Food Service Director Kevin Steffes said the café is significantly different than what many envision as hospital cafeteria style dining.
“We will offer freshly prepared menu items using clean label and locally-sourced (when possible) ingredients. We partnered with the Central Illinois Bakehouse to provide breads, baked goods and pizza dough,” he said.
The café will focus on better-for-you options like premium sandwiches prepared fresh daily, build-your-own salads, made-to-order brick oven pizza, freshly baked homemade cookies and handcrafted teas or lemonades. For those in a hurry, grab-and-go options will also be available, or they can use the Grub Hub mobile ordering app.
“Employees and visitors can place their order, pay for it, and just come in to pick it up,” said Steffes.
With the opening of North Star Café, the Orchard Street lobby coffee shop will close. South Clinic coffee bar service continues as normal. The lower level cafeteria café hours are now daily from 6 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
The Orchard Street garage is open and will allow cars to exit onto Park Street until the outside construction is completed in summer 2020.
Valet parking is available at the main entrance and the Outpatient Services entrance (formerly main entrance) for people with mobility issues.
Categories: Redefining Healthcare
Tags: Carle Foundation Hospital, Champaign-Urbana, Main Concourse, Opening