“Where do you want to be in ten years?” This is one of the first questions Julian Grimaldi asks customers when discussing Hybrid operating rooms (Hybrid ORs). Being the expert planner at Getinge for these state-of-the-art solutions, he is all about preparing hospitals for the future.
This year Getinge celebrates 20 years of pioneering the Hybrid OR – a place that goes beyond medical boundaries by combining an operating room with one or more imaging systems such as angiography, computed tomography scanners (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging scanners (MRI).But it all starts with an early idea, which turns into a solid plan.
“Customers often ask for something new to answer a specific need or complex issue that they face. The idea of installing a Hybrid OR sprang from that need,” explains Julian Grimaldi, Hybrid OR planning expert at Getinge.
Since it is a big investment, the decision to build a Hybrid OR requires a considerable investment in planning, with the description and definition of the desired final outcome clear and concise. “We start by discussing with the customer where they would like to be in ten years. A Hybrid OR allows for various surgical and interventional applications while providing tremendous flexibility. It’s about jointly preparing for the future of surgery,” says Julian.
It differs how long it takes to setup a Hybrid OR from scratch, depending on such factors as the complexity of the project, the hospital workflow, the number of disciplines involved and the number of modalities required.“I would say 15 months is a minimum for the delivery of an up and running Hybrid OR, but it can take up to 30 months. For multi-modality suites it can take even longer.”
One thing all projects have in common is that it is a true team effort with many specialists from Getinge involved, as well as many people from different departments of the hospital. “We need to find a solution that makes everyone happy – the hospital management, radiologists, nurses, anesthetists and all of the specialists from different disciplines who will work in the Hybrid OR. The end goal is to provide safer and more cost-effective procedures for patients.”
Julian’s role is especially important in the early project phase, where he strives to find the optimal architectural solution that fits into the given space while fulfilling the customer’s requirements. A Getinge Hybrid OR always consists of tailor-made solutions by mixing relevant products to maximize the outcome for every customer. “Together with our imaging partners, we create value by providing an entirely new workflow and workplace, where both diagnostics and therapies takes place. It includes devices such as a special Hybrid OR table, surgical lights, pendants and anesthesia machines. It also products such as modular room and OR integration systems.”
With more than 1,350 Hybrid OR’s sold worldwide during the last 20 years, Julian and the rest of the Hybrid OR community at Getinge have gained thorough knowledge in this space. Their aim and objective is for Getinge to continue to be viewed as a thought leader and pioneer in this field. “There is still much more to do. Right now, we are in the midst of starting up a new Hybrid OR in our Getinge Experience Center in Rastatt, Germany. It is beside other Getinge Experience Centers and imaging partner showrooms around the world, a great place to learn more about the possibilities a Hybrid OR offers. And now that we are adding this brand new space in Rastatt, I look forward to spending even more time with our customers there to prepare more hospitals for the future.”
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