Outpatient Surgery Magazine, providing current information on Surgical Services, Surgical Facility Administration, Outpatient Surgery News and Trends, OR Excellence and more.
Issue link: http://outpatientsurgery.uberflip.com/i/1335694
signs monitors and oxygen lines, for example — saves valuable minutes, which is especially important in a high-volume specialty such as ophthalmology. The lesson here is to engage staff members to determine if designs will be functional in practice. Let physicians and staff work with mock-ups of the areas in which they'll operate, and provide constant feedback to architects and contractors to ensure the spaces fit their needs. Previewing proposed plans before building began helped us avoid costly post-construction modifications. • Standardized ORs. Each of the facility's 400- square-foot ORs feature power outlets and medical gas hook-ups built into the ceilings, a feature that eliminates cord clutter and tripping hazards. They're also equipped with the same equipment — a surgical microscope, phaco machine and vitrecto- my platform — because we perform a wide variety of procedures and wanted the flexibility to schedule them in any of the rooms. The microscopes are standard floor-based models; two are equipped with retinal viewing systems, so we can run two retina rooms simultaneously. The surgeons prioritized being able to record videos of procedures and transmit them wirelessly to a large flat-screen monitor hung on an OR wall. Surgical team members track the progression of cases, and ready needed instru- ments and supplies. That's been an important factor in our ability to perform efficient procedures. • Physician feedback. When purchasing capital equipment, you'll have greater purchasing power and negotiate better deals — and ensure staff become experts in using the new technol- ogy — if the medical staff can come to a consensus on the devices they'll use. Ask surgeons to trial the machines they're con- sidering and have them vote on which ones they want to add; a simple majority determines the brands you'll purchase and install. Investing time in a group decision-making process pays off. • Surfaces that last. Don't focus solely on the sticker prices of the finishes you're considering. Instead, consider the cost of upkeep and possible replacement, and choose materials that will remain useful over the lifespan of your facility. In our old center, we installed laminate countertops and had to replace them several times. The second time around, we opted for solid-surface countertops made of Corian and ORs outfitted with stainless steel, which is durable and easy to wipe down between cases. • Laser treatments. Capsulotomy and iridoto- my are revenue-generating cases that can be per- formed in minutes, making YAG laser procedure rooms some of the most profitable square footage in an eye center. We placed our YAG laser in an exam-size room just off the waiting area. It's a convenient location for patients, and it prevents overcrowding and patient flow disruptions in sur- gical care areas. Surgeons schedule laser cases between surgeries and have plenty of time to per- form the procedures while their ORs are being turned over. • Instrument care. Pay attention to layouts that will enable your staff to reprocess instruments efficiently and effectively. In our facility, a sub- 2 2 • S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1 NICE TOUCH Private check-in areas and pictures of a beloved mountain range add to the facility's patient-centered design.