July 20, 2020 – Khon Kaen University by Faculty of Medicine and Srinagarind Hospital renovated the temporary patients’ relative accommodation, which is officially opened today. Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University presided over the opening and made a visit around the place. The President was accompanied by Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jirawuthipong, M.D., Dean of Faculty of Medicine, Assoc. Prof. Songsak Kiatchusakul, M.D., Director of Srinagarind Hospital. The temporary patients’ relative accommodation is situated at the Sports Center of Khon Kaen University. It is open for service today.
Assoc. Prof. Charnchai Panthongviriyakul, M.D., President of Khon Kaen University related that the arrangement of the new temporary accommodation for Srinagarind Hospital’s patients’ relatives by Faculty of Medicine and Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University will solve the problem during the time when the Medical Hub is constructed. Formerly, the 25th Anniversary Pavilion was used for this purpose. However, as the pavilion was not convenient, and because Queen Sirikit Heart Center, which was situated at the place, already moved; the place has been vacant. Therefore, it is appropriate as it is not far away from the hospital. Moreover, with the shuttle bus as well as the place being close to shops where food and goods are available, the patients’ relatives should find the place more convenient. The temporary building can house as many as 130 people per day, which will be enough. So it will be used until the construction of the new building is completed. The new place will of course house more relatives. The purpose of the replacement and improvement is for facilitating the patients’ relatives, which is a good moral support for them.
Assoc. Prof. Apichat Jirawuthipong, M.D., Dean of Faculty of Medicine said that the house for the patients’ relatives can only be found here at Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. It was open for service in 1983. There was only one building then, which was constructed using an amount of 840,000 baht. Then in 1988, Faculty of Medicine organized a marathon activity to raise funds for constructing another building. Many students, lecturers and staff joined the campaign marathon and the faculty obtained an amount of 2,400,000 for the purpose. The two buildings have been used ever since, with the accommodating capacity of 400 people per day. Later, Faculty of Medicine started operating the Medical Hub, where some of the usage space overlapped the relatives’ accommodation buildings. Therefore, the relatives’ accommodation was temporarily moved to the 25th Anniversary Pavilion while the new place was being renovated at the Sports Center of the University. This new place had been vacant and so could be used, again, temporarily, as the patients’ relatives accommodation.
Assoc. Prof. Songsak Kiatchusakul, M.D., Director of Srinagarind Hospital explained about the facilities for the relatives at the new temporary accommodation. For transportation, there is the KKU Smart Transit – the yellow line – operating free of charge from the place to Srinagarind Hospital, The bus stops at the former accommodation and Queen Sirikit Heart Center before going to the hospital. In the morning and evening, a bus comes every 15 minutes. An emergency vehicle will be available 24 hours as well as the guard. The place will be cleaned everyday by workers from the cleaning company. The relative of a patient who wants to stay here can register at the service point at Srinagarind Hospital by filling in a form and submit to the officer in charge to get a coupon. Then show the coupon to the officer at the accommodation. This registration procedure is necessary for safety purpose, for it verifies that the person is truly a patient’s relative. The document required can be the hospital appointment or the patient transfer document, which can primarily be used for registration.
Mrs. Sam-ang Griffith, the relative of a patient who has registered for accommodation at the new temporary relatives’ accommodation said she feels grateful to Khon Kaen University, Faculty of Medicine and Srinagarind Hospital for arranging this place. The place is clean and is provided with bed and necessary items. The relatives also cooperate in cleaning the place so that it is kept clean and inviting.
The new accommodation for the patients’ relatives has been renovated by Srinagarind Hospital to facilitate the relatives of the patients who are receiving healthcare service at the hospital. There is a free yellow-line KKU Smart Transit running between the place and the hospital. The place itself provides all necessary utilities such as bed, bathroom and consumption items. The purpose is to house the relatives who are here to take care of the patients so that the patients will be supported mentally during the treatment.
News / Photos: Natthawut Jaruwong
[ Thai ]