Pre-conference: Offsite Facility Tours—Experiential Education

Editor’s Note 

The OR Manager Conference commenced this week with a variety of pre-conference events, including an experimental educational offsite tour to TriStar Centennial Medical Center and the Vanderbilt Case Cart Operations Center in Nashville, TN.

The first tour featured the newly-renovated TriStar Centennial Medical Center Advanced Joint Replacement Institute, led by DeNene G. Cofield, BSN, RN, CNOR, VP of perioperative services. She shared with attendees that every component had been designed to better serve patients, families, staff, physicians, and partners.

The tour encompassed a walk-through of the registration and waiting room area, a welcoming space adorned with comfortable seating, a coffee bar, and breathtaking views of Nashville. Attendees were guided through the "patient experience," including a tour of the pre-op/recovery spaces, PACU, and non-traditional operating rooms. The tour concluded at the newly designed SPD, equipped with state-of-the-art technology from their partner, Steris.

Other notable features of the new facility included:

• Calming OR oasis scenes for when the patient is going to sleep
• room integration and cameras in the OR
• the surgical board for EMA, OR, and PACU
• VIEW smart windows with incredible views and tinting ability
• two total joint robots.

The next stop on the tour took attendees to the Vanderbilt Case Cart Operations Center. The 51,000 square-foot sterile processing facility was constructed to address inventory challenges and enhance efficiency to boost surgical case volume. Attendees had the opportunity to witness the facility firsthand, showcasing how sterile processing and the supply chain can collaborate to create a case cart build.

Robin Adkins, BSN, CNOR, RNFA, senior clinical engagement manager, and her colleagues provided attendees with an overview of their vision for the facility. "We are very proud of the forward thinking we had when building our 10-year growth plan," they noted, adding that there is still room for expansion.