Wilson Memorial Introduces the Operating Room of the Future

June 10, 2009

On Wednesday, June 10, Wilson Memorial Hospital hosted an open house to introduce a new environment for surgery to the community. Each of the four operating rooms was demolished and re-constructed over the past year to allow for built-in technological advancements that enhance patient care and provide the most modern technology for surgeons. The operating room of the future is here for our patients for minor as well as major surgical procedures.

As surgery develops, new technology and techniques evolve as well. With the shift to more laparoscopic or minimally invasive procedures, the timing was perfect for this extensive renovation. Now, all equipment is built-in from the ceiling. Images, such as CT scans and MRIs, are sent to flat screen monitors for quick reference by surgeons. Boom systems deliver oxygen and anesthetic gases for convenient and rapid access. Wilson memorial is the first community hospital in the area to offer this advanced surgical environment.

Tours were provided to showcase the newly renovated surgical suites as well as Wilson’s modern Outpatient Surgery Department and Interventional Laboratory. Wilson staff members offered brief descriptions of their respective areas. Some information shared is as follows:

1. Interventional Radiology Lab (IRL) which specializes in minimally invasive procedures that help create better blood flow in patients with arterial blockage. Digital Subtractor Angiography, the “Gold Standard” for vascular imaging, is used to identify areas of decreased arterial blood flow.

2. Same Day Surgery (SDS), also referred to as Outpatient Surgery, provides a convenient and comfortable environment for patients who will be in and out of the hospital in the same day. Wilson’s SDS patients have their own private room along with a separate exit for additional patient privacy.

3. PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit) is often referred to as the “Wake Up Room” where patients are closely monitored as they recover from anesthesia after surgery. When stable, they are taken to their hospital room or their private room in Same Day Surgery until dismissed.

4. In addition to the above mentioned improvements, the newly renovated Surgical Suites also provide the surgical staff with access to real-time medical information such as patient electronic medical records and lab results. Fetal monitoring is also accessible for OB/GYN physicians who need to monitor patients in Wilson’s Family Birth Center. Surgeries performed at Wilson Memorial include: general surgery; gynecologic surgery; ear, nose and throat surgery; orthopaedic surgery; ophthalmologic eye surgery; podiatry; urologic surgery; plastic and reconstructive surgery and endoscopy procedures.

5. Sterile Processing ensures that all medical/surgical equipment is sterilized for patient care and is divided into four major areas: Decontamination, Assembly and Sterile Processing, Sterile Storage and Distribution. It takes approximately 2 hours for each medical instrument to be processed through Sterile Processing.

The Wilson Memorial Hospital Foundation recently received a grant from Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. in the amount of $45,000 to support Wilson’s surgery department renovation project. The grant is payable over two years and is contingent upon Wilson raising private dollars within the community. Additional private donations from the community brought the total to nearly $100,000.

“Throughout the history of healthcare at Wilson, support from the community has been instrumental in the hospital’s continued success,” said Bonnie Faulkner, executive director of the Wilson Foundation. “Partnering with Honda on this project will not only strengthen the healthcare provided in our area, but will allow Wilson to continue to provide advanced surgical care to our patients.”