Power Requirements
As many as possible of the 110 volt outlets for equipment should be mounted on articulating columns. This will minimize tripping
hazards at the floor of the operating room. A set of three dedicated 110-volt electrical outlets should also be placed at the center of
each wall of the operating room at 18" above the floor. All electrical outlets in the operating room should be on dedicated circuits
and powered from the nearest isolated power panel mounted in two opposite corners of the room. Due to the increasing use of
lasers, it is very important that one 208-volt outlet is provided in each OR. The overall design of the power distribution system must
accommodate the use of lasers in all operating rooms at the same time.
Communication Systems in the Operating Room
Intercom, telephone and computer systems are all required in the operating rooms. In addition, a "code blue" system is required in
the event of a cardiac arrest summoning designated staff to the OR from other areas of the hospital. It is highly desirable for the
articulating utility column serving the anesthesia machine to have a telephone mounted on it since the anesthesia staff cannot
leave the head of the table. This will allow him/her to summon assistance from the chief anesthesiologist when required or to
request a replacement when a break is needed.
Gurney Alcove
Surgical patients are brought into the operating room on a gurney or on a combination gurney/recovery room bed. In some cases
such as eye surgery, a recovery bed is used instead of a standard operating table for the procedure. Normally, the patient is
transferred to the operating table in the room and the gurney is removed from the OR. An alcove should be provided directly
outside the operating room in the semi-restricted corridor where the vehicle is parked during the procedure. After surgery, the
patient is placed back on the gurney and moved to the Recovery Area. The patient may be transferred to a hospital bed at this
point. There are occasions when a patient is transferred directly from the operating room onto a hospital bed and taken directly to
the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. The gurney alcove outside each OR should be large enough to accommodate a standard hospital
bed in its maximum configuration with IV poles, etc. attached. For this reason the alcove should measure 4'-0" (1.2 meters) wide by
10'-0" (3.04 meters) long.
Housekeeping Aids Closet (HAC)
Operating rooms are thoroughly cleaned at the end of each surgical day. The room also must be cleaned between each case.
Design Guide - Surgical Service
Narrative
Guide Plate:
2l
Page 12 of 14
Date: August 2005
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