On the cutting edge: New surgical rooms to come online this spring

from Better Health magazine, Fall, 2002

Kathy Dalton, RN, MSN, was one of a group of Danville Regional Health System officials who traveled to Richmond a year ago to convince the state that the hospital needed more operating rooms.

"At that time, we were at 150 percent of capacity, and the situation was getting more difficult every day," says Dalton, directory of surgical services and endoscopy. "We never canceled any necessary surgery, but elective surgeries were often postponed. It wasn't unusual to have cases scheduled at 8 or 9 pm."

Brian Bonar, Director of Communications, and Allen Wiles, VP of Facilities inspect progress on the construction of new surgical suites to open in March 2003.

Fortunately, the overcrowding soon will be alleviated when four new operating rooms and a new seven-room endoscopy suite come online early next year. These new operating rooms, along with two open-heart surgery suites opening in March, bring the total operating rooms available at Danville Regional to 14.

According to Dalton, the new operating rooms, located on the 2nd floor, will primarily be used for outpatient surgery. Each showcases the latest in technology, including special high-intensity lighting and a center column which houses electrical systems to keep them from being underfoot.

In May, a new endoscopy suite will open, with easy patient access on the hospital's first floor. Fifteen private preparation rooms and seven procedure rooms will be used for gastrointestinal and pulmonary diagnosis and treatment. Video scopes will allow the physician to see clearly and record video images during the procedure for patient files.

Robert Honea, MD, chief of surgery and general surgeon at Southside Surgical Specialists, says the new suites will make a difference that patients will appreciate. "People like to schedule surgery to fit in their busy lives," he says, "and sometimes we had to schedule late evening or Saturday elective procedures. Having the new suites will be far more convenient for patients, families, as well as those caring for them. And because we will be able to dedicate rooms to ophthalmologic and orthopedic surgeries, there will be less changeover of material, which is more cost effective for everyone."