Design of cardiovascular operating rooms for tomorrow's technology and clinical practice — Part one

Transformations in surgical models of care, including the advent of minimally invasive procedures, bio-robotics and imaging, have revolutionized the cardiovascular physical realm in terms of capability and procedure. An unacceptable number of avoidable patient safety incidents result from the widening disparity between surgical innovation and the environment in which it is applied. Design of cardiovascular operating rooms that aims to minimize the increasing problem of patient safety must consider the behavior of staff and patients as well as the complex interrelationships between culture, technology and achieving reliable, high quality cardiovascular outcomes. There is a need for better, evidence-based physical design guidelines for cardiovascular operating rooms. A better understanding of the relationship between the physical design and its impact on the flow, operations, and culture will positively impact on patient outcomes.