Room to breathe: storage solutions pack big punch in little space

Healthcare Purchasing News, August, 2004 by Jeannie Akridge

No one ever has enough space, and in hospitals that goes double. That's where creativity, careful planning and flexibility come into play. Healthcare storage companies today offer a multitude of options beyond simple shelves and bins--clever solutions that can ultimately save much more than space, including time, money, and as any nurse can attest to, more than a few headaches.

When it comes to optimizing precious space, high density storage solutions are becoming increasingly adept at tucking away supplies in nooks and crannies, while at the same time making it easier for workers to locate needed items. Suddenly finding stock is a lot less like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Moveable aisle systems

One company that offers high density storage solutions is Spacesaver, with its moveable-aisle mobile systems that eliminates space between multiple aisles. The benefits of a high density mobile system include added efficiency and inventory control by positioning more supplies near the point of use. Spacesaver claims that their smaller footprint has the capability of increasing storage capacity by as much as 100 percent over standard storage systems. The Spacesaver systems are available in manual, mechanical assist systems that work on a chain drive; electric powered; and programmable options depending on the facility's budget or automation requirements. The system includes rails that are recessed into the floor that avoid the risk of tripping over exposed tracks.

Spacesaver has been providing healthcare storage solutions since 1972, and has developed a network of contractors across the country who are experts in the systems, and will work with you from the planning and design stages.

One such contractor is E. Coleman Goodwin of the Walter H. Hopkins Company in Atlanta, who oversaw an installation at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta, GA. The hospital had expanded their Surgical Services department adding a new self-contained wing. Goodwin installed twin mechanical assist mobile systems for Kennestone in the wing's central core in order to house all surgical supplies and instruments in one location, outside of the O.R. The facility's surgical services supply coordinator, Kate Shandley, says this helps to open up the O.R. and gives them the added benefit of preventing cross contamination of sterile supplies.

Another Spacesaver installation, at Medical College of Pennsylvania, a member of the Tenet group purchasing organization, involved remodeling the operating room (OR) suite and incorporating a Spacesaver mobile storage system in the sterile supply room to free up space for operating room expansions. It was able to centralize all sterile supplies--which had formerly been scattered throughout the procedure rooms--in one storeroom in the OR corridor.

Lisa Czyzewski, OR director explained that by consolidating the sterile supply inventory, she's been able to reduce the amount of sterile supply inventory and meet the hospital's operational streamlining goals. "It was difficult to maintain a cost-effective level of supply inventory when we had supplies scattered," she said. "With everything in one place, we have been able to cut inventory."

The change also made it easier for the sterile processing technicians to get case carts assembled. They complete their sterile processing of instruments the night before a procedure and bring it into the OR area on a case cart where they add their sterile supplies. Whereas before they had to go to three floors and multiple rooms to find the items needed. Now they are faster and more accurate--and no time is wasted if a supply is urgently needed during a procedure.

Top-track moveable aisles

Another variation of the moveable aisle concept can be found in InterMetro's Super Erecta Top-Track System. Mobile storage units on casters are positioned between stationary units, with a single aisle. Users move the units along the top-mounted railing system to create an aisle where needed between any two units. Metro says this system increases storage capacity by 25% without increasing floor space.

The systems require no drilling or bolting into the floor. And with the overhead track, there's little chance for dirt and debris accumulation; plus the system allows easy access between units with a utility cart.

Warehousing meets healthcare

Many companies are adopting philosophies borrowed from warehousing. Automated storage and retrieval systems technology that has been used for years in warehousing operations are surfacing in automated supply storage systems for healthcare.

Swisslog, which also delivers medication storage solutions, has introduced its BoxPicker Automated Supply Management System. The BoxPickerCS stores and dispenses items in individual storage bins. The basic system would consist of three storage modules and one operator station. The operator fills a bin with supplies and via a robotic crane that moves vertically and horizontally within the system, BoxPickerCS automatically stores it on racking inside a secure enclosure. All transactions start and finish through a controlled-access drawer. Information concerning bin contents is entered at the work station on the keyboard or using the barcode scanner. A drawer then releases, and presents a storage bin for loading. The operator fills the bin, closes the drawer and the system stores the bin on the racking. Automatic storage and retrieval proceeds inside the unit while the operator is loading and unloading bins.