Saint Mary's Hospital Opens Colleague Serenity Suite

WATERBURY, Conn. -- Saint Mary’s Hospital has opened a colleague Serenity Suite to address resiliency and wellbeing. Over the last two years, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed an incredible burden on health care workers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health care workers experiencing fatigue can jeopardize their own health and safety, can suffer from burnout, and have the potential to commit patient care errors.

The Serenity Suite is modeled after the Zen Room, a newly created space at Mercy Medical Center in Springfield, a member of Trinity Health Of New England. Mercy Medical Center’s resiliency team developed the idea using their collective training in psychology, psychiatry, integrative medicine, mindfulness, and wellness. Ari Kriegsman, M.D., Medical Director of Addiction Consultation Services for Mercy Medical Center says, "The use of technology to create such a full sensory experience actually 'fools' the brain into thinking that you are at the beach or in a field of flowers." According to Dr. Kriegsman, peer-reviewed studies indicate that spending just 15 minutes in a space like this can reduce an individual's stress level by 60%.

Shawna Edwards, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer at Saint Mary’s Hospital was the driving force behind the project at Saint Mary’s Hospital, "Health care workers at every hospital in the country are struggling with some degree of pandemic-related stress. I’m so delighted with the way this place of respite turned out. I know our colleagues will benefit from it greatly.”

The Suite features a full sensory relaxation experience with HD video nature scenes, surround sound, mood lighting, and essential oil scent diffusion. Participants can create their own stress-reducing experience and location – at a beach, near a waterfall, or out in the forest by using a Google Assistant to select their preference. The Serenity Suite also features massage chairs.

Saint Mary’s new Serenity Suite was designed and created by Studio Elsewhere, a New York-based firm that uses evidence-based and data-driven practices to develop virtual and physical interventions that promote brain health by easing the impact of trauma while also relieving stress and anxiety.

Funding for the Serenity Suite was made possible by the Saint Mary’s Hospital Foundation. By swiping their badge, colleagues may access the Suite 24 hours a day, seven days a week.