Jennie Edmundson Hospital Unveils Cutting-Edge Cardiovascular Suite

Nebraska Methodist Health System’s Jennie Edmundson Hospital recently unveiled its state-of-the-art cardiovascular suite, marking a significant advancement in heart care for Council Bluffs and the broader southwest Iowa region. The space, designed by RDG Planning & Design, allows the hospital to expand its reach and enhance its cardiovascular services. It officially opened its doors on Monday, April 1, 2024.

Located between the hospital's emergency room and radiology department, the suite benefits from its adjacency to those departments, operating rooms and locker rooms which can be accessed if needed. It features all-new equipment and is designed to streamline operations, enhancing the hospital's ability to perform advanced procedures and manage patient care more effectively.

"Working alongside the hospital, our goal was to create a space that meets the evolving technological demands of cardiovascular care and fosters a comforting atmosphere for patients and their families," said RDG Architect and Partner Katie Ramsbottom, AIA. "Through our design, we aim to contribute to the hospital's vital work, ensuring that the residents of Council Bluffs and the surrounding region have access to the best cardiovascular care available."

The newly designed, 5,700-SF suite replaces the hospital’s existing outdated and undersized cath labs and includes two Class 2 imaging rooms, a minor procedure room, four prep/recovery rooms and support spaces. The design prioritizes patient and family experience, with a dedicated family waiting room and user-friendly flow of movement, as well as clear separation between family-access spaces and procedure spaces. A shared storage room between the two imaging rooms reduces the need to duplicate equipment.

“Moving into this new space reinforces Methodist Jennie Edmundson’s commitment to cardiovascular care in Council Bluffs and the entire Southwest Iowa region. Our program had outgrown the previous space, and because of that, it restricted what the team was able to provide patients in terms of new procedures and advanced technology,” said Marcia Keith M.S., BSRT (R), Methodist Jennie Edmundson Hospital Service Leader – Cardiovascular Service Line. “We now have an additional cardiologist and an interventional radiologist who will also help increase the services we can now offer. The new suite will also make the workflow more efficient and allow us to bring in much-needed advanced technology and other tools and equipment to better care for the patients in our community. The space is beautiful, and we enjoyed working with RDG to make our vision a reality.”