Valleywise Health Medical Center

HERA worked with the hospital planners, administration, clinical lab director and staff to help meet goals for personnel, lean processing and quality of testing results for the new facility. During the feasibility stage, the HERA team developed a program, flow diagrams and a test fit for central lab, in and out-patient phlebotomy, autopsy, morgue and biobank. The lab includes microbiology, molecular diagnostics, BSL-3 suite, anatomic pathology and blood bank.

The approach for the new clinical lab is a departure from current lab operations. The new lab enhances automation and reorganizes departments and creates a streamlined approach for distribution of samples. In addition, the space also supports a 20 percent growth in testing volumes.

The clinical lab was programmed at approximately 21,000 net square feet, however the medical center budget was not able to accommodate that amount and economies were implemented. The core line equipment was a significant driver in the overall space layout. Through early and integrated equipment planning, HERA identified redundancies and ensured an ideal overall space plan for the lab.

The hospital supports public health and academic learning and research through a collaborative relationship with Creighton University Medical School. Additionally, Valleywise is a Safety Net Hospital providing healthcare to all.

As part of the feasibility study, HERA also worked with hospital administration, providing clinical lab planning for multiple satellite offices, as well as a prototype clinical lab for ambulatory care satellites.