Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin

Flexibility is Key Word
As Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Builds
for the Future

When discussing the 3 ICU floors of the hospital’s new building, flexibility is a recurring theme for Jim Jablonski, Director of Medical Technology and Safety at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin (CHW). When the new 12-story building opens in April 2009, Jablonski expects flexibility in equipment and patient access, bed positioning options, and a new IV transfer solution. Much of this flexibility will come from a project partner selected in part because of their reputation for – what else? – flexibility. TRUMPF Medical Systems will install a tandem arm TRUMPF KREUZER Equipment Boom in each of 72 new ICU rooms. TRUMPF will also develop a solution for CHW’s diverse IV transfer needs.

Flexible Access and Positioning
“For the staff, the Booms represent a consolidation of everything they need around the patient, plus the ability to move around the bed for patient access,” said Jablonski.“ The Booms will also allow us to move the bed 180-degrees,” explains Jablonski. He describes how more critical patients will face the hospital’s inside corridor for observation. As a patient’s condition improves staff will have the option to move the bed to vary the patient’s view allowing them to face the exterior windows.

Flexible Solutions
CHW also has some unique goals. “I don’t think anyone has put as much on a Boom as we are,” notes Jablonski. “We had a multi-disciplinary team conduct site visits and picked the TRUMPF Boom based on its ability to handle a high-volume of gases, electric and equipment.”

Custom built TRUMPF KREUZER Equipment Booms are designed to handle a higher volume of gases, electric and equipment.

The capacity comes in part from the custom-made nature of the product, according to TRUMPF Director of Operations, Ken McArver. “Each TRUMPF Boom is custom made to meet the hospital’s specific needs,” he says. “Once we have worked with the hospital to uncover those needs, solutions can be designed in a very flexible, modular way.

Another goal specific to CHW involves a new IV transfer solution. “Most IV transfer systems move the pumps from the Boom to a bed. As a pediatric hospital we also have to accomplish transfers to cribs and radiant warmers,” he explains. “We’ve had up to 18 infusion pumps on one patient, so we were looking for an easy transfer solution. We found TRUMPF had a number of creative options and were willing to work with us in developing something entirely new.”

Mock Room Guides Final Decisions
Jablonski makes two additional points. “Cost is always a factor,” he explains. “But, we measure cost in terms of value: The value of what we are getting.” The hospital conducted a value analysis and the results confirmed TRUMPF as the vendor of choice. Finally, to fine tune the vision for the ICU, CHW constructed a mock room. “The room includes every detail that is intended for the actual ICU,” says Jablonski. Representatives from each hospital discipline visited the mock room and offered input. TRUMPF team members participated in these exchanges. “They offered good input and responsive solutions,” says Jablonski. The mock room process and everyone’s input will ensure all needs will be met when the new ICU opens in 2009.




© 2007 TRUMPF, 2007-11-30