Integrated architecture and engineering services for a facility to centralize and standardize sterilization for the health system

Penn Medicine Interventional Support Center

Seeking new solutions to improve efficiency and quality, Penn Medicine envisioned a new offsite Interventional Support Center (ISC) to support its healthcare facilities throughout the Greater Philadelphia region. The ISC would centralize the sterilization of surgical instruments and linens and storage of surgical supplies and soft goods.

Our integrated team of healthcare planners, architects, designers, engineers, and industrial designers was enlisted to design the new facility. We tested and validated solutions using time motion studies and simulation modeling to identify gaps and bottlenecks in the flow of instruments and supplies. The resulting solution is a one-way processing flow including a series of airlocked vestibules, decontamination area, assembly sterilization area, and sterilizers. The facility features HEPPA filtration and redundancy in all building systems including generator back-up. A separate administrative suite includes office space and workstations for employees. Amenities for staff include a break room, conference room, a mother’s room, and locker rooms.

Consolidation of services through the new ISC will standardize instrument processing, instrument sets, and soft goods across the health system. This raises the bar for efficiency to exemplify an unwavering commitment to patient care.