Advanced surgery rooms nearly complete at YRMC

Yuma Regional Medical Center recently celebrated 50 years in operation, and now the medical facility is completing the addition of four new operating rooms to the 14 already in use.

"The rooms are designed for a variety of surgical specialties with state-of-the-art equipment," said Julie Lubecki, R.N., Surgical Services director.

"Tim Brooks, surgical services material management director, and I visited several hospitals to study their surgery areas. We studied each area then combined ideas and designed the surgery rooms with the NDT architect. All processes have passed approval by our YRMC administration and state requirements," Lubecki said.

Brooks added, "Departments in many hospitals have not worked together as Julie and I have. Result is great. And, we have a sterilization room next to the operating rooms to clean and sterilize the expensive, delicate equipment such as endoscopy cameras. This is the first one in the state."

Each surgery room is designed for efficiency and safety. Ceiling boom with shelves for regularly used equipment eliminates the electrical cords on the floors.

All equipment needed by nurses is on one side of the room, and that needed by anesthetists is on the other.

The rooms are fully integrated with video, audio and a music system.

During a sneak preview for media, Jerry Sandau, representative of the STERIS equipment company, explained how the LED lights over the operating table are better for surgeries as they are cooler than halogen lighting. "They also last longer and are less expensive in usage."

Another factor is the "green light" that is less bright but focuses on the area of the surgical procedure when the overhead lights are turned off. "It's like what is used by NASA," Sandau said.

There are four monitors in each room that can show procedures and be sent to outside areas and other ORs.

A nurse can use a touch-screen monitor to control the visuals, lights, camera and music. The rooms are designed for more efficiency and less fatigue for the surgeons and nurses.

Lubecki said that now a nurse is sent to interview each case patient, which allows the surgical nurses to be in control of all the instruments needed by the surgeon. "This is a time saver and helps everyone involved."

The high-definition visuals can be sent to a training room - another new feature - and other surgery areas.

Each of the surgery rooms has a pass-through warmer for blankets.

All features of the new rooms are designed for efficiency and safety.

The $22 million project was started in March 2007, by Kitchell Construction and STERIS.

Lubecki said the area will be cleaned, stocked, more equipment installed and sterilized. "Training will be at least two weeks for the surgery staff. No more tours will be permitted. We are planning to do our first surgery on Jan. 12, 2009."

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Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.