NORTHAMPTON –  Cooley Dickinson Hospital has transitioned to almost all single-bed inpatient rooms. Offering single rooms demonstrates the hospital’s commitment to increase patient satisfaction, reduce wait times in the Emergency Department and to further decrease infections.
 
Without the need for costly modifications, the hospital converted from double-occupancy rooms to single rooms in May. If there is an increase of patients, the converted rooms can revert to double rooms as needed. 
 
With single rooms, patients and their families experience more privacy and sense of confidentiality as they talk with their care staff.  The move also further reduces the incidence of infection, and wait times in the Emergency Department where single rooms are also offered, are expected to decrease. 
 
Currently, all patients who are admitted are screened for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection prior to their admission. In the past, a patient would have waited in the Emergency Department for the results of their test. Now with single rooms, the wait in the Emergency Department will not be necessary, and patients can move through to the admission process more quickly.

Cooley Dickinson Hospital is licensed for 142 beds. On average, there are between 70 and 80 inpatients each day.