Construction Report: Expansion to include state-of-the-art surgical suites
Published on Monday, April 13, 2020
By: Annie Oeth, aoeth@umc.edu
Pediatric surgeries from outpatient procedures to heart transplants will be performed in larger, state-of-the-art operating rooms designed for children.
Under construction as part of the seven-story Children’s of Mississippi hospital expansion, the new surgical suites align with the University of Mississippi Medical Center’s missions of patient care and education, said Dr. Christopher Blewett, pediatric surgeon-in-chief.
“Not only will there be additional ORs, but they will be larger and more advanced,” Blewett said.
The new operating rooms each cover about 630 square feet, a 50-percent increase in space, said Brian Reddoch, UMMC’s project manager for the expansion.
The Children’s of Mississippi surgical area opened in 2004 with seven operating rooms on the top floor of the state’s only pediatric hospital. The $180 million children’s hospital expansion, set to open this fall, will have 12 ORs, each reflecting the latest in medical technology.
“The size and technology of these new operating suites are the standard today,” Blewett said.
“Our surgeons have outstanding outcomes now, but when our expansion opens, they will be operating in suites that match their skills.”
The additional space is needed for the number of specialists who collaborate to provide the best care for the state’s children.
“For example, in orthopaedic surgery, there might be experts in fluoroscopy and X-rays, one or more surgeons, surgical nurses, a circulating nurse who acts as a patient advocate during the procedure, scrub techs, and an anesthesiologist,” Blewett said. “Because we are training the next generation of pediatric medical professionals, we may also have residents and fellows observing. In all, we could have as many as 10 people working in a pediatric surgical procedure.”
“We also need these larger ORs for the size and amount of equipment available now, as well as for the multiple trays of sterilized instruments required for complex surgeries.”
Blewitt said through the years, surgical advances have increased the need for larger operating rooms and additional space for pediatric intensive care.
“Complex pediatric surgeries can be performed here in Mississippi, putting care close to home for our patients and their families,” he said.