A little time outdoors could go along way to give you a lift if you were recovering from an illness, injury or surgery.
That’s exactly what members of the Women’s Club of Tyrone were thinking when they decided to initiate and maintain a project to make nature’s beauty accessible to patients at the Tyrone Hospital.
In 1985, the Women’s Club of Tyrone funded the construction of a wooden deck area off of the hospital’s medical/surgical unit, to give patients and their visitors safe and easy access to the outdoors.
“We wanted to create an area where patients could go outside but still be very accessible to their nurse and whatever care they needed” said Ann Searer, a member of the Women’s Club of Tyrone who has served on a committee for this project since its inception.
The deck is equipped with a wheel chair ramp, and furniture that blends with the natural setting. The deck’s location at the rear of the hospital gives it a secluded feel and offers a view of a lovely wooded area. There is also a garden area on the deck where small flowering trees, shrubs and other plants provide blooms to enjoy from spring through autumn.
Lenny Kenjora, LPN, a nurse who works on Tyrone Hospital’s medical/surgical unit said hospital staff monitors patients and gets physician approval when necessary for patients to go outside.
“A hospital stay can seem very confining to patients,” said Kenjora. “It is very therapeutic for patients to get a change of scenery and have the option to sit outdoors.”
Over the years, the Women’s Club has maintained the deck and, at times others, in the community have contributed to the upkeep. Last fall, Josh Frye, son of Dale and Pam Frye cleaned and sealed the fencing area of the deck for his Eagle Scout project.
Recently, the Women’s Club purchased new furniture for the deck adding two chairs, a rocking chair, a glider chair, and a two seat glider to further enhance the comfort of the area and seating capacity.
Plantings were also added to the deck’s garden area and to the island that sits directly in front of the hospital. Norma Getz of the Women’s Club served on the committee to select the new deck furniture she said
“The hospital staff tells us patients often use the deck area,” said Getz. “We are pleased to provide the new furniture for the patients to enjoy.”
