Oregon Health & Science University

Teamwork Yields Results At Oregon Health & Science University

“We were really focused on research and evidence based design to create a patient-centered environment,” states Retty Casey, Director: Clinical Facilities Development at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). In describing the key objectives established for the new Peter O. Kohler Pavilion, featuring 26 MICU rooms, Casey explains, “We wanted to minimize the look of technology for the patient and enhance the color scheme. We wanted to reduce noise and the harried-ness of the staff to decrease stress on patients and families.” Casey, a veteran staffer with more than 24 years experience who had full responsibility for opening the new facility, also emphasizes the importance of patients having access to outside light and nature.

For the OHSU staff, it was a 5-year journey from developing the facility’s initial objectives to opening day in June of 2006. As one might expect, it was a journey that would rely heavily on teamwork: not only among OHSU’s departments, but also among—and between—vendors. In one case, selecting the vendor was a foregone conclusion: TRUMPF KREUZER Equipment Booms were standard at OHSU since they were first installed there in 1998.

The TRUMPF KREUZER product team—lead by Mike Bender, worked closely with OHSU to help realize the patient-centered facility that had been envisioned.

Mock Room Assists in Trouble Shooting

The mock room at OHSU was set up for 8 weeks. “Different units have different ways of working; people change; equipment changes; size of equipment changes; whether it needs to hung or rolled: all of this came into play,” said Casey. All participating parties, including the architect, the project manager, staff nurses, physicians, the lift team, transportation, respiratory, rehab, environmental health and safety, clinical engineering, and each vendor were brought in to evaluate the soundness of the decisions that had been made on paper. Bender points out that the custom nature of the TRUMPF KREUZER product allowed modifications to made without loss of time or momentum. “Since every TRUMPF KREUZER Equipment Boom is custom built to the exact specifications of the hospital, the alterations OHSU requested were easily accommodated,” said Bender.

Success Story Told Best by Staff and Patients

The Peter O. Kohler Pavilion opened on June 27, 2006. When asked how things are going Casey responds with noticeable pride. “It’s going great! It really is,” she says. “It was a big transition for the staff with new Equipment Booms, new monitors, a new nurse call, and new software, but they’ve really made the transition well.”

Placing all equipment on the Booms gives the staff a more flexible, safer environment where extension cords are eliminated and access to vital equipment is optimized. Other benefits, however, are also significant in terms of patient care. The design has a nurse’s viewing station between every two rooms. The nurse can sit outside the room and position the Boom so he or she can see the monitor, IV pumps, etc. The nurse is essentially right at the bedside and can see all the displays that need to be seen, yet they can close the door and give the patient’s family their privacy.

“Also, we’ve taken advantage of one of the best views of Portland, the mountains and the river,” says Casey. “Every patient room is on the outside perimeter of the building and the TRUMPF KREUZER Booms give us the flexibility to turn the beds around and allow the patients to enjoy the view. Our original objectives related to access to outside light and nature have more than been met.”

Casey points to the reactions she’s gotten from the staff, including many appreciative e-mail messages, as evidence of success. One story, however, stands out. A nurse walked into a room and found the patient and his wife, sitting on the bed, heads together, watching the sunset. They explained they were “just having a moment.”

Casey concludes, “It’s nice to be able to accommodate that: it’s very different from being tied to a fixed column and the impact those moments can have on recovery cannot truly be measured.”

For further information call 1-888-474-9359 or e-mail info@us.trumpf-med.com .




© 2007 TRUMPF, 2007-11-02