New Negative-Pressure Rooms Let Hospice Patients with COVID-19 Receive Hospice Inpatient Care and Visitors

The Denver Hospice is putting the finishing touches on five brand new negative-pressure rooms that will allow compassionate care to patients with COVID-19 in a more comforting home-like setting. These negative-pressure rooms — the first and only ones available for hospice in-patient care in the Front Range — also allow patients to receive compassionate care visits from family at end of life. 

The negative-pressure rooms are in a newly renovated wing of our Inpatient Care Center at Lowry. Along with the use of proper personal protective equipment, this environment significantly reduces the risk of transmission of respiratory infections. Patients admitted to the wing can have compassionate care visitation, with guests receiving infection control training. 

The Denver Hospice worked to ensure the new negative-pressure rooms were designed to maintain the home-like feel found throughout the rest of our Inpatient Care Center. Surrounded by wood paneling and warm lighting, patients and their loved ones can enjoy views of the facility’s gardens from the windows. 

“It was important to us to be able to provide critical health care to our patients with COVID-19 here at the Inpatient Care Center rather than in an intensive care unit in a hospital. The rooms will remain a benefit to our community even after this pandemic has passed,” said The Denver Hospice President Melinda Egging.

“Staff have been asking how to do more for our community and people affected by COVID-19.  We’ve begun training our staff on the safety protocols for the negative-pressure rooms, and we’ll be ready to continue to provide care to our community.  One thing we have learned through this pandemic is the importance of family and being together.” said Inpatient Care Center Clinical Manager Stacey Stafford.