THE SURGICAL SUITE
General Description, Function and Concepts
The VA Medical Center's Role as a Teaching Hospital
Most Veterans Affairs Medical Centers are affiliated with major medical schools. Residents from these schools as well as students in
nursing and medical technology perform many functions within the Medical Center during their medical education. Because of the
teaching mission of the VA, additional space is required in the Operating Room and staff support areas to accommodate the
residents, faculty, and students. Also, surgical procedures may have a longer duration. This additional space and time must be kept
in mind when determining the size and number of Operating Rooms and support spaces for a teaching hospital.
The Surgical Department
The Surgical Department is comprised of all areas required for patient surgical services. It includes the Surgical Suite (defined
below), Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), Phase II Recovery, Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) and the Procedure Suite
(including Cystoscopy and Endoscopy Procedure Rooms).
The Surgical Suite
The Surgical Suite is a group of spaces consisting of the individual Operating Rooms in which surgery is performed, plus all the
required supporting areas. These supporting areas include a clean core, a semi-restricted corridor (previously termed peripheral
corridor) and the following spaces:
1.
Control and Communication Area; Patient Holding/ Prep;
2.
Staff Lockers and Lounge, Toilets and Showers (LLTS) including the Auto-Valet scrub suit dispensing machines;
3.
Anesthesia Workroom;
4.
Scrub Areas for the staff;
5.
Blood Gas Analysis Laboratory;
6.
On-Site Sterilization serving a pod of Operating Rooms;
7.
Equipment Storage Space;
8.
Connection to the Supply Processing and Distribution (SPD) - usually mechanical cart lifts or elevators;
Design Guide - Surgical Service
Narrative
Guide Plate:
2a
Page 1 of 14
Date: August 2005
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