Operating Room Renovation

The planning for an operating room renovation entails many upfront decisions and phases. Before any of the construction work can start, state and local agencies have to approve the plans. OBS Credentialing will help you select an Architect, expeditor and contractor with experience not only with the planning and approval process, but with managing the construction itself so that your practice can continue to run smoothly while the renovation proceeds.

The planning has to be internal too. Clear, detailed communication between you, your staff, the contractor, and the architecture/engineering team is crucial and should occur throughout the renovation process. The more information your staff has, the fewer surprises there will be for the project team.

Will you be using the existing infrastructure? Are you planning a hybrid OR? How much time have you allocated to the process? What amount of redundancy already exists in your space that can be repurposed while you renovate? What processes and systems are you implementing with your staff so that your practice runs smoothly without missing a beat throughout?

One of the most important factors in determining the cost and phasing of an operating room renovation is the age, or the state of the existing electrical, mechanical and plumbing. If they are anywhere from 15 to 20 years old, or older, it is very unlikely that they meet current codes, or that they will be able to support your future capacity. Additionally if the ceiling is low, unique solutions for the mechanical systems ducts and ceiling mounted booms will be required. The coordination among the mechanical and structural engineers and the architect is crucial.

The nature of your surgical practice is an important factor in determining the minimum square footage you should plan for your operating room. Generally, older operating rooms are roughly 350 square feet. A hybrid OR, that incorporates interventional or catheter lab equipment should have 800 to 1,200 square feet, as well as specific cables, HVAC and power systems. However, depending on the nature of your practice and the procedures you plan on performing, you can have an adequately appointed OR in as little as 180 square feet.

Here are some considerations that you may want to discuss with your planning team:

There is no need for a sink in the operating room – some inspectors think that a drain which is open to the air negatively impacts the sterile environment
Have at least two beds in your recovery room so you don’t have to occupy a consult room to recover a patient, and your staff is utilized more efficiently
You can eliminate planning for a discrete pre-op area, you can use a consult room for pre-op and pictures
There is no need for a separate scrub sink; the sink in the recovery room is reasonably close and can double as a scrub sink
Plan patient flow so that pre-op patients do not have visibility into the sterile utility area and do not see recovering patients
Situate oxygen tanks outside the operating room. That way sterility is not compromised and your vendor can change them without entering the OR, or having to wait for access.
There is no need for a manifold to pipe in oxygen, you can use a plastic channel in the wall instead. This will act as a conduit to run oxygen tubing (pipe within a pipe)
Plan storage close to the sterile utility, and have adequate storage in the OR for regularly used supplies
Construct a window in the oxygen closet that allows you to see tank pressure levels
Plan patient flow so that patients who are discharged have a pleasant, private, direct exit
Windows in the operating room need to be sealed
Renovate the ceiling so there is no danger of falling tiles
Floors should be vinyl, with no seals, and coved (rolled 4-5” up the side of the OR wall)
Walls should be painted; smooth and easy to clean and disinfect
Operating room lights can be anchored straight into the ceiling slab
If the ceiling is low, use soffits around the room instead of mechanical ducts

OBS Credentialing will guide you, whether you are retrofitting or upgrading your operating room.

OBS Credentialing can advise you on efficient and advanced options that can modernize and optimize an existing operating room. We are highly experienced in all aspects of surgical procedure safety from pre-op to recovery, to discharging the patient: OR layout, equipment, structural elements, procedure flow; access to critical supplies and utilities, surgeon, staff and patient comfort and safety – we can help you with all of it.