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themselves by moving equipment over long distances.
• Smart storage. One of the major problems I've encountered in facilities
where I've worked in the past is a lack of storage space. During the design
phase of our new facility, we anticipated adding 200 to 400 total joint cases
per year to our current annual volume and made sure we had enough storage
space to handle the storage of needed supplies and devices, such as the
implants we store on consignment.
We also installed a pair of 12-feet by 10-feet storage areas, which are accessible
through the back of each OR and stand adjacent to the sterile processing area.
That's where we keep our surgical trays, implants and disposable supplies. The
conveniently located storage areas let the sterile processing staff store sterilized
instruments quickly and easily and provide the OR staff with fast access to missing
supplies.
• Functional flooring. This constant moving of equipment in and out of ORs
demanded installing a seamless floor. The surface also had to be stain-resistant,
because total joint surgery leaves a fluid mess on the floor, and require very little
maintenance despite its high-traffic use. For these reasons, we installed a seamless
terrazzo floor, which we've found is durable and easy to clean.
• Patient-friendly features. It's important to design a facility to maximize clini-
cal efficiencies, but it's just as important to optimize the patient experience. Our
nursing station sits at the center of the pre-op/recovery rooms, allowing for more
efficient, high-touch care. Also, each of the glass-walled rooms is 12 feet by 10
feet, which is larger than the typical pre-op or recovery space. We built these
rooms bigger to accommodate family members who want to comfort their loved
one during the nervous few minutes before surgery and care for them during
recovery. We also used a palette of gray and beige paints on the walls, colors that
give each space a warmer, less clinical-looking feel than a hospital room. Wrap-
around curtains within the walls allow for additional privacy.
