The staff and physicians at King’s Daughters Medical Center havebegun operations in a new surgical suite that delivers advancedtechnology to improve surgical procedures at the facility.

In the midst of an $11 million expansion project that includes anew emergency room and intensive care unit, the new operating suiteprovides the most modern equipment available to surgeons and staff,particularly those performing laparoscopes and using video.

Alvin Hoover, KDMC’s chief executive officer, said therenovation of the operating room, which includes six surgicalsuites, is one of many currently under way at the facility toupgrade technology and treatment.

“We want patients to know that even though we are workingdiligently on completing the larger expansion project, we are notignoring progress in other areas of the hospital,” he said. “Thisexample of improvement, in the case of surgery, definitely enhancespatient care.”

Since Surgical Suite 6 opened July 1, more than 100 procedureshave been performed in it, with a projected 900 more planned in thenext year. The entire operating room performed 538 procedures inAugust alone with a projected volume of more than 6,000 proceduresperformed in a year’s time.

Renovations in the suite, which cost approximately $700,000,include more flexible lighting and video visibility and providegreater utility from other surgical equipment by the use of aSkytron device.

“Skytron provides state-of-the-art medical equipment and isrecognized across North America for the highest quality products,”said Cathy Davis, surgery nurse manager. “This technology offersgreater control and positioning choices for every procedure.”

Mounted with Skytron Stellar surgical lights from a singlemounting area, a separate flat panel display arm provides forprecise and independent positioning for video images around theentire surgical table, with unmatched flexibility to surgeons whenusing video probes and other devices.

The system also clears the floor of equipment clutter andobstructions, while supporting a rotational positioning arm for useanywhere around the table by the surgical team.

“We used to have to pull in equipment for every operation,”Davis said. “The cords now go through the ceiling so they are nolonger on the floor, which is an infectious disease as well as asafety issue.”

Leisa Gill, a registered nurse who works in the operating room,said the new equipment also allows them to set up more quickly.

“Normally, we have to bring two towers (of equipment) the sizeof a small refrigerator into the suite, but here we don’t have todo that,” she said.

Dr. Michael Peavey, a general surgeon, said the new operatingsuite makes ease of movement for physicians and staff one of themain benefits to the system.

“Everything you need is ceiling-mounted so there is no clutterof wires and cables on the floor (to step around),” he said. “Untilyou perform surgery in a room like this, you cannot trulyappreciate the way it improves the entire process.

“In addition,” he said, “the latest technology and digitalimaging greatly increases the clarity of what the surgeon isseeing.”

Improved lighting is made possible by stellar surgical lightsthat provide high intensity, focusable soft white lighting and areequipped with advanced optics offering extended depth of field foreven the deepest cavities without any glare, Peavey said. Bright,cool, shadow-free illumination is delivered to the surgical suitefor every procedure.

“All of these features help the doctor by providing very vividpictures of anatomical structures and all of the booms, lights andmonitors move easily with the slightest touch,” he said.

Dwight Thurman, a registered nurse, said the new equipment hashad a dramatic effect on the operating room’s efficiency.

“I’ve been here 15 years and we’ve seen a lot of progress, butthis is one of the best,” he said. “We rotate through the suitesand we love to get the rotation here.”

Although Suite 6 received the greatest upgrades, the entireoperating room is in the process of renovations, said JohnnyRainer, KDMC’s chief development officer.

The greatest improvement will be in the operating room’s airexchange system, which is being upgraded to provide betterperformance in cooling and infection control.

DAILY LEADER Staff Writer Scott Tynes contributed to thisreport.