DescriptionThe Fluoroscopy Room provides the space and equipment for radiographic imaging and minor interventional procedures involving contrast media. Direct access from an adjacent Fluoroscopy Control Room is required.Hours of OperationUp to 24 hoursOccupancy1 patient; 1-2 staffAdditional Considerations~ Optional general x-ray equipment has been indicated in this Standard Component; this equipment may be provided in this room in addition to fluoroscopy equipment to optimise utilisation of this room in small services and/or provide for redundancy when another machine requires maintenance. Unistrut type ceiling may be required, depending on the equipment to be installed.
~ Equipment is to be installed to manufacturer’s specifications with sufficient clearances for maintenance access. Installation and replacement access routes should also be considered. Additional building services connections and outlets are to be coordinated to suit equipment requirements. Cable ducts for services between imaging unit, the equipment room (if provided) and the control room will be required and must be coordinated with the MME vendor.
~ A separate Fluoroscopy Equipment Room for power supply and control elements for the imaging device may be required depending on equipment selected. Where equipment generates a significant amount of heat and noise, separation from the patient area is to be considered. If provided the equipment room should be accessible directly from the imaging room or control room.
~ All shielding on this Standard Component is indicative. Radiation shielding to suit the overall department layout, anticipated workload and the equipment procured is to be assessed and advised by a qualified Radiation Consultant to meet relevant legislation and local radiation safety policies.
~ An ‘X-ray in Use’ light system is required with signs at each entry to the imaging room that are illuminated when the imaging device is on and turned off when it stops. The exact wording required on illuminated signs will be determined by relevant legislation and local radiation safety policies. Project teams must confirm all radiation safety signage requirements with their jurisdiction’s regulatory agency.
~ Depending on service requirements, general anaesthesia may be administered in this room. This must be confirmed by project teams to ensure appropriate workflows are provided to support this model of care, to confirm the correct building services are provided to ensure patient safety, and to determine medical gas system requirements.
~ Where the Fluoroscopy service is to include interventional procedures an increase in area is required to accommodate additional staff, trolleys, an anaesthetic machine and other equipment. For interventional procedures, general anaesthesia may be given in this room and the appropriate services and support areas for recovery of patients will be required.
~ Provision of reticulated nitrous oxide is optional and must be confirmed to suit local jurisdictional policies and operational service requirements. The use of nitrous oxide in operating theatres and procedural suites and emergency departments is declining due to a range of clinical and environmental concerns. Reticulated systems have been found to increase leakage of nitrous oxide (a potent greenhouse gas) to atmosphere, can increase facility operating costs and potentially expose staff to nitrous oxide. Reticulated nitrous oxide and associated scavenge outlets are not mandatory for any healthcare service and point of care cylinders can meet clinical requirements for the majority of healthcare facilities. Due consideration must be given to a range of operational considerations including monitoring and measurement of usage, management of leakage, WHS requirements relating to the use of cylinders, approach to the provision of scavenge where cylinders are used, appropriate storage for cylinders, and security of gas sources given it is used as a recreational drug.
~ The room will require sufficient clearance to allow access for a patient on a bed. Bed movement into, around and out of the room, and patient transfer should be considered during planning to reduce manual handling.
~ Patient transfer aids such as patient slides and hover mats are to be considered for assisted patient transfers to and from the fluoroscopy table. Final selection of transfer aids will be dependent on service requirements, the needs of the anticipated patient cohort (e.g. for ambulatory services, acute services, etc.), as well as WHS risk assessments/policies.
~ Close access to a patient toilet/shower/change room is required, with direct access from the room preferred to support patients that have changed into gowns.
~ An appropriate patient chair for barium swallows is to be stored outside of room and brought in as required.
~ Acoustic treatment to be considered to manage noise from the imaging device and the adjacent equipment room. All finishes must be meet infection prevention and control requirements.
~ Dimmable light may be considered to support patient comfort.
~ Time tracking requirements (i.e. provision of electric or synchronised clock) is to be confirmed to suit service requirements.
~ Provision of additional speakers and microphones within the room for communication between staff and the patient from the control area will be dependent on service requirements, final room layout and imaging equipment selection.
~ The type, extent and configuration of storage within the room for consumables, linen, equipment, etc. will be dependent on service requirements, operational policies for stock centralisation/decanting and infection prevention and control policies.
~ Hours of operation depend on the service in which this room is located. Ambulatory medical imaging services may only operate during business hours or extended business hours, some small hospital services may have an on-call, after-hours service. Large units are likely to provide a 24-hour service, especially where a satellite service is provided with an emergency department.
~ Size, type and quantity of waste bins is dependent on waste management policies (e.g. for waste separation, frequency of waste removal, etc.) and service requirements.
~ Requirement for fixed and/or mobile duress to be confirmed to suit service requirements.
~ An operational model for responding to calls from staff/patients will be needed to support the inclusion of a nurse call system and is to be determined based on service requirements.
~ Provision of an intercom for staff communication within the department is dependent on service requirements. This function may be provided as part of the telephone system.
~ The final services and configuration of the Medical Services Panel (MSP) - medical gases, nurse call, power and data - will be dependent on service requirements.
~ The need for and extent of emergency power and UPS must be reviewed to suit site specific requirements and confirmed based on risk assessment considering the impact of a power outage on patient care/safety.