Medical Equipment Planning in Healthcare

Medical equipment is highly complex and its technology is ever evolving. It demands a high level of knowledge of the precise installation measures, design standards and environmental conditions for proper functioning. These requirements present numerous design challenges while also considering the intricate logistics and lowering overall costs.

SAHLGRENSKA UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

From renovations to new builds, our experienced specialists work directly with clinical staff and hospital consultants to understand their needs and ensure the equipment is integrated in a way that optimises the best patient care possible, efficient healthcare delivery and facility performance. With comprehensive understanding of medical equipment specifications, their complex systems and the latest technologies, our experts bridge the gap between the hospital stakeholders and the contractors.

Understanding system requirements

System coordination is an important aspect of hospital design, even more so as digitalization evolves. Lighting, alarms and ventilation are some examples of systems that must all be synchronized. The operations themselves, the sophisticated apparatus and the surgical instruments require precise environmental condition depending on their application; our specialists ensure factors such as humidity and temperature are optimal, and that the systems also support infection control, essential for the safe treatment of patients.

We understand the requirements to supply this power-hungry equipment while ensuring backup systems provide 100 percent power redundancy and efficient energy sources.

OPTEGRA EYE HOSPITAL

Challenging medical equipment proximity

Equipment locations relative to each other are key to proper functioning and to avoid interference. For example hybrid operating rooms are equipped with large imaging systems that must work seamlessly next to each other, allowing physicians to care for patients in one place. In Sahlgrenska’s Imaging & Intervention Centre, the unusual proximity of the operating rooms is made possible thanks to lead lined glass and copper or lead cladded walls that shield any interfering radiation.

Ensuring structures are robust and flexible

Only 10% of technical installations are visible. Theatres are surrounded by unseen technical rooms, dropped ceiling space and radiation proofed walls. The supporting structures, such as the floors and ceilings, are reinforced due to the weight of the equipment and to reduce vibration. For example, the cyclotron at Sahlgrenska’s Imaging & Intervention centre weighs over 20 tonnes.

Our specialists simultaneously ensure the building is future-proof by building in flexibility. Sahlgrenska’s Imaging & Intervention Centre is built with removable façades that will allow medical equipment to be changed in the future. Currently it is fitted with an MRI scanner on rails that can be moved between rooms.

Managing complex logistics

Implementing new technologies involves a great deal of planning. From pre-design to construction, we support the stakeholders in the realisation of a wide range of projects from proton beam therapy centres to hybrid operating rooms. We have developed and refined our use of specialist computer programmes for the collaborative design of buildings with colleagues such as the architects and contractors, as well as of tracking equipment specification, progress reporting and cost estimations. As specialists in project management we consolidate the complex demands and logistics of delivering an efficient installation process.