Patient luxury rooms in the newly-remodeled 6-North and 7-North patient care units at USC University Hospital include wood flooring, ample space for visiting family and friends, and amenities such as a sitting area with a table.

For USC nurse Svetlana Kosterina, walking into USC University Hospitals 7-North patient care unit after more than a month away was like walking into a brand new hospital.

"It looks so different, its really beautiful," said Kosterina.

She was just one of dozens of nurses and patients who were temporarily moved out of 6-North and 7-North in the hospitals 1991 Tower while contractors completed a long-anticipated cosmetic upgrade. The units were reopened and patients and staff members moved back in on Feb. 26.

"I'm so excited that I get to come back to work here," Kosterina said. "It's so much more spacious and open and bright.

The renovations of 6-North and 7-North took about six weeks to complete and include new furnishing in-patient rooms and family waiting rooms, as well as new finishes on the walls, handrails, flooring and ceilings. In addition, the nurse stations received a fresh look with new laminate surfaces and counter tops. New accent walls behind the nurse stations will be installed in the coming weeks.

"After nearly two months of work, we are so pleased to see the finished project," said USC hospitals CEO Mitch Creem. "These renovations truly provide more comfortable, quality accommodations for our patients, and our physicians and staff are excited about working in a new, modernized environment. We look forward to completing similar projects throughout USC University Hospital."

On Feb. 25, about 40 employees from throughout the hospital toured the remodeled floors during a two-hour Open House. Charlene Tran, also a nurse on 7-North, said she loved the lavender color of the unit walls. "Its so calm and gives you peace of mind," she said. "Everything is really beautiful."

Many employees also commented on the flooring.

"I noticed it right when I walked in that the floors are not slippery," said Emilia Dewi, an Occupational Therapy resident. "Thats always a concern with patientsthat they might slip and fallso this kind of flooring is really nice and important to have".

Administrators thanked everyone involved in the renovation project, including the nursing and Environmental Services staff, for the extra time and effort they put in completing the patient moves, cleaning up the units and refurnishing the rooms.

"It really takes the dedication and teamwork of an entire staff to successfully complete a project like this on time," said Karen Ribback, executive director of Transition and Planning for the hospitals.

The 6-North, 7-North upgrades were just the first in a series of modernization projects under way at the hospital. This week, patients were transferred out of 5-North to other units in preparation for a similar remodel there. That project is expected to be completed March 28, and patients moved back in on March 29. Then on April 1, patients will be moved out of 6-South. Renovations there are expected to be completed April 27, and patients moved back in on April 28.