Dearborn County Hospital will start 2012 with two new operating rooms and a second endoscopy room.  The new surgical and procedure rooms are the result of a four phase, eight month construction and renovation project that encompassed both the existing surgery department and space made available by the construction of the patient tower.  

“DCH now has five operating rooms plus endoscopy and cystoscopy rooms located in its main surgical department.  An additional endoscopy room is available in the endoscopy suite located in the adjacent DCH Professional Building,” stated Carol Muehlenkamp, DCH Director of Patient Care Services.

“The new facilities are state of the art in every way, from the lighting to the ventilation systems to the large, high-definition flat screen monitors,” explained Connie Cecil, DCH Director of Surgical Services. 

Each spacious new operating room is outfitted with two overhead booms to eliminate cords, cables and equipment being placed on or running across the procedure room floor.  One boom houses the anesthesia system while a second boom is equipped to handle cameras and surgical devices. 

“All the new rooms feature LED (light-emitting diode) lighting.  Green lighting, which enhances the viewing of video monitors and helps the human eye to better discern detail, and new, positionable overhead spotlights also were installed,” continued Ms. Cecil.

“By utilizing the overhead booms, the physicians and surgical staff have maximum access to the patient from all sides,” she noted. “The staff no longer needs to worry about stepping over cords or repositioning equipment.”

The project also included the installation of new temperature controlled ventilation systems in all of the operating and procedure rooms along with the construction of a connecting corridor and new scrub and staff areas.  LED lighting is also planned for installation in the original surgical suites.

“Our new operating rooms will ensure that we are well equipped to accommodate the ever increasing complexity of surgeries performed at DCH,” emphasized Mrs. Muehlenkamp.  “The O.R. project is just another example of Dearborn County Hospital’s ongoing commitment to the community by making exceptional facilities and advanced technology available to our patients.”