Operation Exodus

St. Barnabas residents move to new facility 
July 13, 2007

   CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - After more than five years of planning and construction, St. Barnabas nursing home residents will move into their new home on the campus of Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation Monday, July 16.

            “This is the day we’ve been planning and working toward,” said Eric Boston, president and CEO. “From the moment we initiated the concept five years ago, occupancy has been the vision that sustained us through the drafting and building processes.”

Brigetta Nethery, vice president of clinical operations and nursing home administrator, said the preparations for the move from the 41-year-old existing facility on West Sixth and Pine streets began more than a year ago as part of the organization’s strategic plan. Implementing the plan has been a tremendous undertaking, but uppermost in the minds of St. Barnabas staff is the welfare of the residents.

“Obviously, our first concern is that the residents are safe, not only during the transfer, but afterwards,” said Nethery. “Moving them from their home could be very traumatic. We want to make it as stress-free as possible.” Nethery said a deliberate effort is being made to minimize potential stress by involving residents in the process.

“We’ve talked with them a lot about the upcoming move,” said Nethery. “We want to make it a fun and enjoyable event for them.” Residents have been shown pictures of the new facility in its various construction phases, and were encouraged to choose a new room with their roommate. Their families have also been involved; some would take their loved one by the building site on a weekly drive to keep them abreast of the construction progress.

 On moving day, both facilities will be fully staffed to orchestrate the caravan procession through the fourteen blocks between campuses. Approximately 85 residents will be transported to the ultramodern108-bed facility at 950 Siskin Drive via ambulances, wheelchair vans, and a tour bus provided by Angel Emergency Medical Services. There, comfortable, naturally-lit private and semi-private rooms await them. Each resident will receive a personal welcome, flowers, and a gift before being escorted to their rooms. 

Anticipation is high as operations commence in the new skilled nursing facility. The move will enhance St. Barnabas’s rehab program, admitting more patients unable to withstand the rigors of four to six hours of inpatient therapy in an inpatient rehab hospital. At St. Barnabas, therapy regimens can be tailored to the ability of the patient and can be as minimal as 30 minutes a day. Sessions can be lengthened as the patient regains strength, continuing until the patient is fully functional and able to return home. This reduces the likelihood of premature nursing home placement.

St. Barnabas will continue to offer the services of its independent retirement apartments and assisted living on its original campus at West Sixth and Pine to those patients who may need a more supervised environment. Plans to renovate the Pine Street campus will move forward following resource development.

St. Barnabas Senior Living Services is Chattanooga’s only independent not-for-profit continuing care retirement community. For more information, visit  www.st-barnabas.com.

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