Memorial Hospital West, Pembroke Pines, FL

"The goal throughout has been to improve our systems and equipment so that we can continue to provide the very best in patient care," says Colleen Solomon, Director of Nursing for Surgical Services at Memorial Hospital West. She’s describing the recently completed first phase of the Pembroke Pines facility’s $25-million surgical services expansion program.

Designed to keep the 12-year-old, 236-bed community hospital at the forefront of surgical technology, the expansion included:
• increasing the hospital’s endoscopy suites from three to five rooms
• creating a new cardiovascular intervention suite
• combining pre- and post procedure areas into one 51-bed unit that serves as a holding area for patients in the morning, and a recovery room in the afternoon
• expanding a surgical sterile processing area

"It’s been a huge project that has taken months of planning," says Solomon, who in designing the new units, worked with colleagues to research the most advanced technologies available and the companies that could provide them. "After looking at a number of different companies, we chose TRUMPF Medical Systems because we believed they offer the best products with the greatest flexibility," says Solomon. The Charleston, S.C.-based medical equipment manufacturer and consulting company worked closely with the hospital staff to install equipment specially designed to help surgical and support teams perform better. "Offering the healthcare professional new efficiencies and allowing them to do their job more effectively directly translates into better patient care," says TRUMPF’s Southeast Regional Sales Manager Tim Casey, echoing Solomon’s focus on the patient. "Throughout the design and planning phase Tim consulted with us every step of the way," says Solomon, adding that Casey also instructed staff on equipment usage for several days prior to the opening of the units, and will return to provide follow-up training.

Ceiling-mounted power booms improve efficiency and safety
Among the specific technologies selected by Memorial Hospital West were ceiling-mounted equipment systems, known in the industry as power booms. Traditionally, the vast array of diagnostic and electrical treatment equipment in Operating Rooms and Intensive Care Units has been stored on carts and wheeled around the room, and from room to room, as needed. Hoses and wires stretched across the floors, however, pose a safety hazard for staff and hinder easy movement.

TRUMPF’s line of power booms are custom-designed and installed depending on the needs of the facility and their intended use. Equipment, electrical and gas supplies that are suspended on the power booms can be brought within reach—and just as easily moved out of the way. Equipment is off the floor, making the medical environment safer and cleaner. More importantly, the staff not only has full equipment access but they also have full patient access: moving equipment and beginning to administer care directly to the patient is accomplished quickly and efficiently.

In the new Endosuites which are used for minimally invasive procedures, Memorial Hospital West purchased dual arm power boom systems which hold separate racks of equipment. In the cardiovascular intervention suite, they installed a single-arm anesthesia boom that allows for five feet of movement and holds a flat screen monitor, as well as delivering various gases, including oxygen and suction tubing. Other innovations now in place at Memorial Hospital West include state of the art surgical lights in the cardiac cath lab for clearer visualization during such procedures as the insertion of pacemakers. The units provide brighter, more efficient light while generating less heat. The reduction in heat improves surgical team comfort and allows them to perform better, especially during extended procedures. In addition, the reduced heat eliminates difficulties created by traditional surgical lights found in most facilities.

On-going program to provide the best patient care possible
In the next phase of renovation, Memorial Hospital West is building six additional operating rooms that are scheduled to open in July 2005. Power booms and surgical lights are scheduled to be installed in all of the new ORs.

Going forward, Solomon and her colleagues are also collaborating with the company to install a power boom in another surgical area—an idea that came to Solomon when she saw how well the equipment performed. "I discussed it with Tim Casey, and he is working with us to determine the feasibility," says Solomon. While exact details are not immediately available Solomon adds, "We are just waiting for the cabling to come in, and if all goes as expected, it will be the first time this equipment has been utilized in this manner. We’re very excited."