Medical Construction & Design

JUL-AUG 2015

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

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MCDM AG.COM | J U LY/AUGUST 2015 | Medical Construction & Design 41 made a corporate decision to invest in a clinical trial at Sentara Leigh using hard surfaces and linens infused with ionized copper to help prevent hospital-acquired infections. The decision, after the project was designed and budgeted, created a major change and required engagement with the producers of the copper-infused products to meet production deadlines and keep the project on schedule. The working relationship with the design committee facilitated the change and on-time execution. The design team also worked on placement of a newly devised push-button call system to improve workfl ow for nurses by routing routine requests for pain medication, blankets, water or chaplains directly to the needed providers. "It's important to make decisions based on patient care and safety fi rst, then aesthetics," said Young. "We made aesthetic tradeof s to achieve the best workfl ows while being good stewards of the budget." One example is an idea nurses had after reviewing the design of the East Tower. They identifi ed a connecting corridor, which wasn't seeing much foot traf c. As a result, the area was redesigned in the West Tower to create storage for specialty beds and other equipment. Another example was a plumbing rework to ensure that in-the-wall dialysis boxes in patient rooms were all positioned beside the head of the bed for better workfl ow and to prevent a potential trip hazard. Computer workstations with louvered observation windows outside patient rooms include an overhead sof t with recessed lighting to dif erentiate the space. The original design called for sof ts made of richly fi nished wood. The design team opted for painted wood, which looks nice at a fraction of the cost. Responding to growth The replacement project began in January 2008 with a two-year ef ort to grow the emergency department from 21 beds to 35, modernize operating rooms and update sterile support areas and the post-anesthesia care unit within the 1977 structure. The ED included a drive- through weather-protected ambulance bay to replace one confi gured like a loading dock. "We wanted to respond to growth in ED volumes and provide our patients with greater privacy, while meeting the needs of our EMS partners," said hospital President Terrie Edwards. Unlike the 1977 patient rooms, which could barely accommodate a bedside easy chair, patient rooms in the new towers include pullout sofas for family members to spend the night and private baths with no-step showers. But building the two towers was a test for the clinical and project teams, which had to demolish and build the East Tower within 3 feet of a working hospital. Pre-fabricated surgical boom and light mounting solutions designed for safety and versatility. Visit us at www.healthcaretec.com and find out why hundreds of hospitals, contractors and architects prefer Accu-Mount Support Systems. Pre-engineered configurations for all building structure types.

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