MHH overhauls six operating theaters and brings them up to the state of the art. Construction experts and staff celebrate the end of the building work.
In modern operating room 29: construction specialists, project managers and operating room specialists. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH
Baskets for medical products and medication: Karol Martens explains to the guests how the new modular supply system works. Copyright: Karin Kaiser/MHH
Good news for patients and the surgical teams at Hannover Medical School (MHH): the modernization of operating block 3 has been completed. Six operating theaters and the associated units are now back in operation. Over the past 14 months, the entire area has been refurbished. The reopening was celebrated yesterday. "The result of the construction work is impressive. We can now open a new chapter with Block 3," said Karol Martens from the OR Organization management team as he welcomed the guests. The construction project cost a total of around 6.1 million euros. The state of Lower Saxony contributed around 5 million and the MHH around 1.1 million euros.
Around 30,000 inpatient operations per year
From organ transplants to the removal of tumors, from the treatment of broken bones to the correction of malformations - around 30,000 inpatient operations are performed at the MHH every year. The surgical teams have a total of 36 operating theaters available for this under aseptic conditions. These are spread across several buildings. However, the main area is the so-called central operating theater with 26 operating rooms. It occupies the entire 4th floor of the K5 building and is divided into four blocks. "Block 3 was the only one that had not been modernized in recent decades. In the meantime, the technical systems were showing defects that absolutely had to be rectified," explains Dr. Wolfgang Lobbes. As Operating Theatre Manager, he is responsible for all strategic and organizational processes relating to the operation of the operating theatres. Together with his team, he ensures that all processes run smoothly in the operating theaters, that patients receive optimal care and that work is carried out economically at the same time.
Everything new - from the floor to the ceiling
In operating block 3, the electrical system in particular was in urgent need of renovation. This was not possible without a temporary closure. Block 3, in which the Department of Neurosurgery and the Department of Ophthalmology primarily performed their operations, was therefore decommissioned in May 2024. However, the originally planned “electrotechnical upgrade” then became a more extensive project. This is because the central operating theater dates back to the 1970s and much of the technology in Block 3 was outdated. For this reason, the construction experts from Staatliches Baumanagements Hannover (SBH) and MHH construction management used the closure of the 1,200 square meter area for a comprehensive structural renovation. In addition to the renewal of the electrotechnical systems carried out by SBH, this also includes various structural interventions carried out in parallel by MHH itself: The sanitary technology was overhauled, a new gas supply was installed and the network infrastructure was expanded to meet requirements. All ceiling supply units and the operating theater lighting were replaced. Ceilings and floor coverings were also replaced. In addition, radiation protection and fire safety measures were implemented and all the furniture was replaced.
Needs-based material supply
“The employees in the operating area can look forward to a bright and friendly atmosphere - not only in the operating theaters, but also in the induction rooms, washrooms and changing rooms,” promises Silvia Aurelie Jabs, who managed the construction project on behalf of MHH. Employees can also expect new lockers that are mobile and can be opened and closed using a multicard. Another innovation concerns the practical processes. Operating block 3 has been converted to modular supply. This means that the necessary medical products and medication are provided as required for the individual operations. This modern material supply is based on an automated ordering system. There have also been spatial improvements. A former sterile goods preparation area has been turned into a new operating theater and a cleaning zone for cardio-technical equipment.
Complex alternative concept
The temporary loss and conversion of operating block 3 was a major challenge for the clinics concerned, the surgical teams on site and the OR management. Dr. Lobbes and his team had to find a replacement for six operating theatres. "We moved several surgical departments to other operating theatres, put an operating theatre that had already been shut down back into operation with the help of MHH construction management and switched to outpatient operating theatres. We also extended some of the working hours in order to be able to carry out the upcoming operations," says the OR manager, explaining the complex alternative concept. Ultimately, it was possible to keep the surgery rate almost at the normal level despite the construction work. “This only worked because everyone involved from the various departments worked together very flexibly and cooperatively,” says Dr. Lobbes.
Text: Tina Götting