University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Altoona

UPMC Altoona is exploring relocating all or part of its clinical lab facilities to support growth in services, increase enrollment in the School of Medical Lab Science and achieve an increased bed count for the hospital. Laboratory project goals included creating an efficient and appropriately sized lab; facilitating lean processes; creating a flexible and modular design; and providing space for specialty labs.​

The current lab is 16,221 dgsf and includes administration, morgue, autopsy, histology, cytology, blood bank, chemistry, hematology, urinalysis, microbiology, molecular, phlebotomy, POC testing and School of Medical Lab Science.

HERA worked with clinical lab staff and stakeholders to understand goals, current and future staffing, current and future peak occupancy, current and future test volume targets, activities, new service lines and requirements for specialty labs.

Using this information and benchmark data, planners:

• Established future state flow diagrams.
• Created blocking diagrams illustrating personnel, sample, supply and waste flow.
• Developed test fit plans illustrating a lab module, corridors, casework and an equipment outline.