The 2,000-square-foot Interventional Radiology (IR) Suite at Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital was created between the active emergency department and operating rooms on the hospital’s first floor. In addition to the IR procedure room, the project included four pre/post-op bays, a nurses’ station, a control room, an equipment room, and a reading room.
Quandel completed this renovation in an active hospital setting within six months from start to “go live,” including additional scope to get the first Siemens Artis Icono Interventional Radiology System up and running within the St. Luke’s University Health Network. The system features cutting-edge technology and comprehensive capabilities that can make more accurate diagnoses to help improve patient outcomes in our community. Our team worked closely with the design team and equipment suppliers to coordinate the equipment needs within this tight construction schedule.
Quandel had multiple innovative initiatives that we implemented during the IR Suite Renovation project. We utilized pull planning and whiteboard scheduling. While our team always begins any project with the end in mind, this scheduling approach allowed us to work even more collaboratively with our trade partners to ensure that everyone understood exactly what they were responsible for and how their tasks impacted the rest of the schedule. We also utilized QR codes in Procore for observations and the punch list. We hung QR codes in each room that linked directly to the project in Procore, our project management system. Anyone working on the job with access to Procore and project stakeholders was able to scan the code to access the project status directly in the project management system. Observations and deficiencies can be made directly from the individual’s phone or tablet. This is a distinct advantage to improve efficiencies throughout the project, and in particular, helped to keep the punch list to a minimum for a smooth closeout.
The IR Suite renovation was not without its challenges. There were long lead times for wood-lead doors. Quandel installed temporary hollow metal doors to install the equipment and calibrate the room. Multiple tie-in locations to the existing hospital (emergency department, main hospital entrance, and the PACU/OR) required careful coordination with the facility and department heads. Underground plumbing and a new concrete slab for the IR equipment had to be completed with all electric equipment and tools within the confines of the hospital. Noise and vibration within departments was coordinated in advance because our work was next to an active operating room and emergency department.
Quandel managed extensive coordination between all trades due to the existing utilities, ceiling heights, new utilities for new structural steel, and uni-strut to support the IR equipment. We performed a 3d scan of the existing space to coordinate the uni-strut. To avoid loss of heating throughout the hospital, hot taps were utilized to heat the hot water system tie-in. Quandel is grateful to have had this opportunity to partner with St. Luke’s University Health Network. In just six months, we provided them with a state-of-the-art IR Suite so that they can even better meet the growing medical needs within our communities.
