All surgical patients treated at Borgess Medical Center (BMC) now have a private room.

“Borgess is pleased to be taking this step for the privacy and convenience of our surgical patients and their families,” said Shahin Motakef, Executive VP & Chief Operating Officer, Borgess Hospitals and Extended Care Division. 

“We’ve offered all Borgess Medical Center outpatients private rooms for years.  We are now able to offer private beds to all inpatient surgical patients.  Many general medicine patients also express their preference for private rooms and we are able to grant this request for the vast majority of them.”

The total number of private beds at BMC is more than 300.  This includes all outpatient rooms.  

Heather Fleckenstein of Kalamazoo expressed her satisfaction at having a private room following her surgery.

“No one is ever in my room except my nurse or doctor, my family and me,” she said.  “I particularly appreciate the privacy when I need to get out of bed in my gown.” 

Having a private room also reduces the noise level, Fleckenstein added.  “After my surgery, I couldn’t talk very loudly, so the quiet made it easier for me to be heard.”

Surgeons are also pleased that all of their patients are now placed in private rooms.

“Surgery is a private, serious matter,” said John Collins, MD, a member of The Surgical Group of Southwest Michigan.  “I’ve been a surgeon for 37 years and like most people, I’ve also undergone surgery myself, as have members of my family.  The extra  privacy afforded by this new Borgess policy benefits everyone.  I especially appreciate being able to speak privately with patients and family members following surgery, in their private rooms.”

More information on Borgess, its services and physicians, is available at Borgess.com.