BANNER BOSWELL MEDICAL CENTER

Improving efficiency and flow through an $11.8 million multi-phased renovation

The project included the demolition of two existing 44-square-meter operating rooms, an abandoned endoscopy suite, pathology department and surgery locker room area. Demolition created space for three new 55.6-square-meter operating rooms, a 111-square-meter hybrid operating room equipped with medical imaging devices and booms, a pathology department and a new surgery locker room.

Relocating Operating Rooms to Decrease Structural Vibrations

The existing operating rooms were located in the basement directly under the emergency department’s ambulance drive and the structural vibrations caused by the ambulances above were outside of the tolerances allowed by operating room boom manufacturers. It was therefore determined that the best solution was to relocate the operating rooms. The revision resulted in a more sustainable, permanent solution for the facility. The operating rooms were provided with occupancy sensors and modulating air valves to allow for HVAC setback during unoccupied times, while still maintaining required pressure relationships.

New Air Handling Unit for Operating Rooms

The project also included the installation of a new air handling unit on the hospital’s first floor roof, as well as installation of new mechanical infrastructure above the existing operating rooms to provide them with air from the new unit.

Keeping the Hospital Running while Renovating

In order to maintain daily operations of the surgery department without disruption, the project was split into 18 major phases and utilized two shifts. Careful coordination was essential to keep noise, dust, vibration and debris to minimum.

The operating rooms met the hospital’s expectations, and were recently recognized by Engineering News-Record Southwest with a Health Care Award of Merit.