Introduction
For hospitals looking to build an effective surgical room, certain basic principles must be addressed first and foremost. These ensure a comfortable patient experience, as well as a smooth work experience for the surgical staff involved in procedures. As a consequence of implementing these well-designed and executed changes, the operative procedures also become considerably more effective.
Hygiene and Sterilization First
Maintaining a sterile environment in a surgical room is imperative. Regular, thorough disinfection processes ensure strict sterile conditions. All medical personnel in the surgical room need to scrub in before entering. They are also expected to wear sterile gowns, gloves, and masks. To avoid airborne contaminants, the air in the surgical room is sterilized by a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration system.
Install State-of-the-Art Equipment
Cutting-edge technology is being increasingly used in surgical rooms. This ranges from robotic surgical procedures to high-resolution imaging techniques. These help improve precision, reduce surgical risks, and help speed up the recovery process. The surgical room should be equipped with the latest surgical equipment, such as laparoscopic systems. Even regular equipment, such as a retractor for abdominal surgery should be upgraded for a better patient experience. The new-age retractors are available in sterile medical-grade plastic, which can be easily disposed of after patient care.
Fitted with silicone hooks and a self-retaining mechanism, surgeons can use them with one hand.
Maintaining and upgrading equipment regularly ensures consistent quality performance during procedures.
Ensure Appropriate Lighting
Good visibility is of utmost importance during any surgical procedure. A well-planned surgical room has sufficiently bright, adjustable lighting. This is to make sure there is sufficiently clear visibility during the procedure. The design of the lighting apparatus must also eliminate shadows, as that could cause obscuring of the surgical field.
Temperature and Humidity Control
Surgical rooms must maintain temperature and humidity control for the comfort of the patient and the medical staff. Fluctuations in temperature or humidity encourage the development of pathogens. Low temperatures like in surgical rooms are a deterrent to pathogenic growth, while high humidity encourages it. Proper control over the surgical room’s environmental systems like temperature and humidity can prevent that.
Emergency Preparedness
Emergency preparedness is vital for surgical rooms. This could be in the form of unexpected medical needs of the patient during the procedure and can be addressed by keeping an adequate stock of emergency supplies. This could include defibrillators, oxygen tanks, and emergency medications, for instance. For other unexpected scenarios, it is important to have pre-existing, well-established emergency protocols in place to ensure any emergency scenario has a prompt, effective, and efficient resolution.
Noise Reduction
For surgical rooms, it is important to keep the space soundproof to prevent any external disturbances from affecting the procedures performed.
This helps eliminate distractions for both patients and medical personnel, as well as reduce any stress the patient may feel. Using noise-absorbing substances can help address noise levels.
Ergonomics
Surgery can become a time-sensitive procedure, and it is important to eliminate elements that cause unnecessary waste of time and energy to be more efficient during such procedures. By ensuring surgical staff have comfortable workstations, their fatigue may be reduced thus improving efficiency. Additionally, surgical instruments and equipment should also be designed to minimize strain on the body of both the patient and the surgeons and surgical staff involved in procedures.
Conclusion
An effective surgical room is built through careful planning and deliberate execution. By being mindful of the patient experience as well as the experience of the surgical staff, hospitals can also ensure efficiency in the procedural outcomes.
