The pediatric neurosurgery OR has two anesthesia circuits built in for simultaneous surgeries in the same space, such as conjoined twin separations.

Burn patients, who often cannot regulate their body temperature, will be treated in an operating room outfitted with heating capabilities that allow the temperature to go up to 110 degrees.


In addition to the 10 pediatric ORs, a separate pediatric GI suite and a minor-procedure room offer space for more straightforward cases that require minimal intervention. A scope-cleaning station located immediately next to the GI suite will allow technicians to wash and sanitize equipment promptly.

An operating room dedicated strictly to emergencies will be open 24/7 to handle unexpected cases and avoid the need to reschedule or delay planned surgeries.

All pediatric radiology staff and equipment are, for the first time, located within a centralized area immediately next to PICU, ORs and surgery prep and recovery areas. The proximity will minimize the need for transporting and handling critically ill or otherwise vulnerable patients. All imaging modalities will be in close proximity. Ultrasound will be located immediately next to the CT scanner.

"All of our imaging equipment and technology will be where all the action is and where we're needed the most," Huisman says. "The pediatric ORs literally open into pediatric radiology."

An MR-compatible incubator for critically ill newborns will allow a baby to be imaged without ever leaving the safety of the incubator and without the need to detach and reattach the baby to life-support equipment. Also, because MR machines are several degrees cooler than room temperature, staying inside the incubator allows the baby to remain warm, which is particularly important for newborns, as they cannot regulate their body temperature yet.

Smoother workflow, better efficiencies

A real-time locating system with radio-frequency and infrared technology can track equipment throughout the building. The same system will be used to track the location of staff on inpatient units.

The tracking system also plays an integral role in the automated towline that hauls supplies and waste materials through a subterranean tunnel and out to the hospital's loading dock, a quarter mile away from the patient care areas. The system uses a chain drive buried in the floor, much like a car wash.

"The chain-drive technology is decades old and was chosen for its simplicity and reliability. But the new twist is the radio-frequency ID system," says Michael Iati, senior director for architecture and planning at Johns Hopkins.

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