Intraoperative MRI Design for Akron Children’s Hospital

Akron Children’s Hospital, ranked as one of the best hospitals in the United States for pediatric neurology and neurosurgery, turned to Hasenstab Architects as the hospital prepared to maximize operational efficiencies and incorporate technological advances for diagnostic surgical care. Hasenstab Architects provided design expertise for a 2,460-square-foot build-out to accommodate an Intraoperative MRI as well as a new neurosurgery operating room, which was phase two of a multi-phased renovation and addition.

As with other projects we’ve done with Akron Children’s Hospital that incorporate LEAN principles, the design team at Hasenstab Architects created a full-size cardboard mock-up of the proposed spaces in order to test the effectiveness and flexibility of the design. The mock-up of the Intraoperative MRI suite enabled design and end-user staff to address all healthcare flows and operational efficiencies for outpatient flows and radiology staff. A second, more detailed mock-up of the Intraoperative MRI Suite included technical and operational staff from IMRIS, the mobile MRI vendor, and Stryker Technologies representatives to address MRI safety and operations within the operating room. All MRI safety zones were checked for inpatient and outpatient access routes, and pre- and post- procedure/surgery patient flows. Sedation service adjacencies played an important role for outpatient access for MRI diagnostic services.