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When it came to planning the new tower, the hospital staff was heavily involved. “We wanted our nurse managers, specialty coordinators and everybody who had a department to have a lot of say in how their departments were going to be, because it was going to be their home,” says Kathy Sanderson, multi-facility director. “From the flow of linen coming in, to the trash being taken out, we pored over every detail, including the floor.” Staff also contributed to the flooring selection. “Our nursing staff tested samples of the floor with methylene blue and betadine to see if it would stain,” says Sanderson. “It didn’t at all, and that was a deciding factor.”
The desire for a highly stain-resistant, durable, yet comfortable surface led the staff to noraplan environcare™. After making sure chemicals such as methylene blue and betadine wouldn’t stain the floor, the nursing staff performed another test. “They put varying sizes of needles on the surface of the floor to determine that if a needle was dropped on the floor during surgery, they could easily identify it,” shares Sanderson. “The nurses had no problems quickly identifying the needles, so camouflaging was a non-issue.” Installed in the ORs, corridors, short stay and all other related clinical areas, the flooring was also selected for its tough, yet resilient surface. “We needed the ability to easily roll OR tables and microscopes across the surface, while also providing staff as much ergonomic support as possible to relieve the back pain that comes from being on your feet,” says Sanderson.
