The Wall Street Journal called it “the operating room of the future.”
Surgical suites decked out in bright, stainless steel seem to come right out of a futuristic sci-fi movie. But more hospitals across the country are embracing a new modular fabrication system for its ability to transport an average operating room into the 21st century.
The University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) will be the next institution to adopt this innovative setup, which uses stainless steel modular panels for walls and cabinets instead of customary materials like concrete or sheetrock.
UNMH’s new Critical Care Tower (CCT) will be the first in New Mexico to incorporate this system into its new surgical suite, which will include 18 operating rooms, on Level 3.
April Jaglo, executive director of clinical facilities development at UNMH, was a prominent voice advocating for the system in the CCT.
The stainless steel wall system will allow UNMH to have a flexible infrastructure plan in place that will meet any needs in the future
“I am so excited that UNMH is creating a state-of-the-art medical facility to be able to deliver more to the people of New Mexico,” Jaglo said. “We are all relatively in the dark about what new technology will be available in 10 to 20 years. The stainless steel wall system will allow UNMH to have a flexible infrastructure plan in place that will meet any needs in the future.”
One of the system’s principal benefits is its superior infection control. Studies show the stainless steel panels harbor 50 percent less bacteria than a traditionally constructed room.
Not only is the material easier to keep clean, its hygienic exterior creates a healthier and more aesthetically pleasing space for staff and patients.
“It’s not just the infection control, but also the appearance of cleanliness and order,” said Nivine Doran, MD, professor in the UNM Department of Anesthesiology. “It is more appealing to work in an environment that is clean. For an operating room, those are crucial elements.”
The system’s modular panels also mean that installation and repair are simple, fast and time-saving.
An average maintenance project could shut down an entire operating room for days, resulting in a loss of surgical services to patients. But the modular panels can easily be removed and the necessary repairs accomplished in a matter of hours.
“This system provides us the accessibility without all the downtime, and we will have a much faster turnaround for repairs and modifications,” said UNMH facilities manager Stephen Aragon.
Another significant feature includes the incredible durability of the stainless-steel panels.
This resilient material can endure almost any kind of harm without sustaining long-lasting effects. In another study, the system was proven to be fire resistant for at least 60 minutes against scorching temperatures of up to 1,700 degrees.
“The stainless steel may get dinged and dented, but it will not get damaged,” explained Aragon. “The steel will still maintain its integrity.”
The system gives hospitals the opportunity to radically improve their operating rooms and services offered to patients.
The stainless steel panels will bring the Critical Care Tower, already a state-of-the-art medical facility, one step further into the future.
“We are building toward a modern operating room,” Doran said. “Whether it be equipment or the walls, everything is designed with the mindset that we are in the 21st century. We have more to deliver to our patients in a safe manner.”
To learn more, visit https://unmhealth.org/locations/tower.html.
