PESU: An environment that makes all the difference, thanks to the CHUS Foundation

It was designed to be a warm, bright, and reassuring environment, comfortable for both patients and their loved ones. The spaces were created to foster closeness and comfort, without ever compromising the excellent care provided by the teams.

As soon as this vision emerged, the CHUS Foundation recognized its profoundly human importance and decided to support it, convinced that a caring environment promotes well-being, healing, and quality of care.  

Its seven-million-dollar contribution has made it possible to humanize, beautify, and add color to these common spaces, where strong emotions coexist, sometimes marked by uncertainty and apprehension, sometimes filled with hope and joy.

Contributions that make all the difference

Thanks to the Foundation's support, several rooms in the different units have been furnished and equipped, thus providing suitable environments that promote evaluation, therapeutic intervention, and the development of young patients.

Child Psychiatry

The child psychiatry department at Fleurimont Hospital is a pillar of youth mental health in our region, supporting children aged 0 to 17 facing moderate to severe disorders. This new unit meets the needs of this young clientele by offering a safe and stimulating environment. It promotes the development of good life habits, helps better manage stress, anxiety, and anger, strengthens self-esteem, and contributes to the physical and mental well-being of children.  

The unit welcomes young people suffering from:  

• eating disorders  

• severe anxiety disorders

• depressive disorders  

• psychotic disorders  

• adjustment disorders with suicidal ideation

• Outdoor Therapeutic Courtyard: The lack of outdoor spaces in child psychiatry was a major issue. Creating an adapted courtyard thus became a priority. With gardening equipment, furniture, a small bike path, games, and sports equipment, this courtyard offers children a safe space to play, relax, and develop their social skills.  

• Fitness Room: From the outset of planning the new units, the need for a space for movement and physical activity was identified. This new room is equipped with treadmills, stationary bikes, medicine balls, speakers, and a Bluetooth device, among other things. Staff are currently working on an engaging program for young people.  

• Rehabilitation Room: Designed for children with conditions such as autism or Down syndrome, this room helps stimulate motor, sensory, and social skills and offers activities tailored to each child.

• Art Workshop : In this space dedicated to visual arts, children can draw, paint, do pottery, or engage in any other artistic creation. These activities stimulate imagination and offer children a way to express their emotions without words, in a safe and caring environment.

• Classroom: This room allows young people to continue their schooling during their stay. It helps maintain a sense of normalcy in their daily lives, prevent academic delays, and preserve their connection to their educational journey. The room is fully equipped to support the academic success and self-esteem of young patients.

• Activity Room: Reserved for children aged 5 to 12, it includes a table, chairs, and a kitchen area.  

• Multipurpose Room: This large room includes a game table, sofas, a small library, as well as an 18-seat kitchen area that will allow, among other things, for cooking classes for young people. This multipurpose space promotes play, relaxation, and social development for children.

Pediatrics

• Observation and Evaluation Room: This room allows the child to be evaluated in an environment conducive to interaction and trust. During the session, a healthcare professional or student can discreetly observe from an adjacent room, without disturbing the interaction. This setup preserves the quality of the therapeutic relationship and offers a concrete learning opportunity.  

• Three treatment rooms, an intervention room, and a clinical bathroom: These rooms are dedicated to various care techniques: blood draws, IV insertions, urinary catheterizations, or dressing changes.  

Maternity and Neonatology

• Lactation Room: Located in the neonatology unit, this space allows each mother to experience this in comfort and privacy.

Common Areas

The common areas of the Enfant Soleil and Emergency Pavilion were designed to offer comfort and well-being to everyone. Thanks to the support of the CHUS Foundation, these spaces invite people to forget for a moment that they are in a hospital, by creating a warm, soothing, and functional environment. The Foundation's commitment has led to improvements in:  

• The main entrance of the Enfant Soleil and Emergency Pavilion  

• Rest areas for parents, as well as spaces located at the entrance to the pediatrics, maternity, and neonatology floors

• Five corridors on each floor, enhanced by colorful visual designs  

Medical Equipment (Pediatrics, Maternity, and Neonatology)

In recent years, the increase in the volume of patients in neonatal and pediatric intensive care, combined with evolving care standards, has highlighted the importance of optimizing technologies and practices. The CHUS Foundation has enabled the purchase of various essential medical equipment to support these medical advancements.

• Multipurpose ultrasound machine

• Mobile X-ray machine

• Difficult intubation cart  

• Cardiac ultrasound machine

Equipment to enhance daily comfort

The quality of a hospital stay also depends on the comfort offered to patients and their loved ones. Aware that hospitalizations can be long and emotionally challenging, the CHUS Foundation has contributed to the acquisition of technological and entertainment equipment to help distract hospitalized individuals.  

• 86 televisions with remote controls in common areas, rooms, and treatment rooms

• Five electronic tablets

• Six mobile carts

• TV subscriptions to various specialty channels  

• Eight information kiosks  

• A collection of 200 books  

Thank you to all our donors and the community: your generosity allows us to provide the Estrie population with unique, welcoming, and comforting care environments, both in the new emergency department and in the units dedicated to children and their families.  

Special thanks to: Mirella and Lino Saputo Foundation, D’Amours Foundation, Godin Family Foundation, Daniel Beaucage Family, J. A Bombardier Foundation, Bell, Kurling for kids, Club Piscine, BRP, Domtar, the Organizing Committee of the CHUS Foundation Golf Tournaments (2005-2009 edition), and several other major philanthropic partners.

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Here is the new Enfant Soleil and Emergency Pavilion in a few images.

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