White, suspended acoustic ceiling in radiology facility ;

Die beste Röntgenpraxis der Region

Die Radiologie im Gesundheitszentrum Funäsdalen ist seit vielen Jahren in Betrieb und bietet Einwohnern und Touristen in den nahe gelegenen Dörfern und Skigebieten die Möglichkeit einer direkten und schnellen Versorgung. Die frühere Radiologieeinrichtung war zu klein, was die Versorgung bettlägeriger Patienten erschwerte. Außerdem war die Röntgenausrüstung veraltet. Eine neue Radiologieeinrichtung wurde angeschafft, mit deren Lieferung MedicSolution betraut wurde.

 

Es bestand die Notwendigkeit, sowohl die Einrichtung als auch die Ausrüstung zu modernisieren. Daher führte die Region im Jahr 2022 ein Vergabeverfahren durch. Die Räumlichkeiten und Geräte wurden als Komplettlösung mit hohen Anforderungen an die Arbeitsumgebung und die medizintechnische Ausstattung ausgeschrieben. MedicSolution gewann die Ausschreibung mit einem Angebot für ein vorgefertigtes Röntgenmodul.

"We chose to procure a turnkey contractor because it's simple to have only one party to communicate with. Thanks to that, we only needed to conduct one procurement, and we in the region don't need to act as an intermediary between different suppliers. The risks of misunderstandings decrease, and we saved a lot of time for both ourselves and the entire project. The collaboration with MedicSolution worked very well," says Tord Olofsson, Radiology Engineer at Region Jämtland Härjedalen.

Exterior of prefabricated module for healthcare services in a snowy landscape
White, suspended acoustic ceiling in radiology facility

MedicSolution developed customised facilities that solved the operational challenges for at least five years with the possibility of relocating the building to a new Health Centre in the region. The facility and equipment were procured by MedicSolution based on the region's requirements and were inaugurated before the 2022 ski season.

"When undertaking a complex construction project like this as a turnkey contractor, it is crucial to have established collaborations with good suppliers for both building materials, equipment, and furnishings. A radiology facility of this size requires a very specific design and carefully selected materials," says Kenneth Helgesson, Head of T&D and projects.

When MedicSolution develops its prefabricated modules, they are designed to last for at least 50 years with the same requirements as site-built healthcare buildings. Because the prefabricated building was made for radiology services, two millimeters of lead was required in the walls to provide adequate X-ray protection. The building and structure are designed according to snow zone 3.5.

Additionally, there are clear requirements for noise levels in radiology. Together with Ecophon, the choice of materials for sound-absorbing suspended ceilings was planned, compatible with the modular construction and meeting the technical requirements.

White, suspended acoustic ceiling in radiology facility
White, suspended acoustic ceiling in radiology facility

A reverberation time of <0.6 seconds was the minimum requirement according to the current standard (SS 25268:2007+T1:2017), and with the help of sound-absorbing materials that reduce sound reflections, noise levels are lowered, sound propagation is shortened, and the reverberation time requirement is met. This reduces unwanted noise that can be stressful for both patients with bone fractures and staff performing concentration-demanding tasks. The X-ray module results in a twofold benefit with a calmer environment for patients and, on the other hand, a more supportive workplace that takes into account how we are biologically designed to respond to sound.

The materials used in a building naturally affect the sound. It is often possible to choose materials that meet hospital hygiene requirements while also having high-quality sound-absorbing properties. It is a good idea to focus on creating pleasant sound environments early in the project planning process since healthcare facilities should be designed to dampen noise from the building's installations, adjacent spaces, as well as external noise. This should be done to the extent required by the intended use, ensuring that those in the premises are not bothered by the noise and that the required confidentiality protection is maintained, according to SS 25268.

"Thanks to extensive experience from Ecophon and the solutions we chose, the result was very good and easily meets the requirements. This has contributed to us being able to deliver a really good product that we are very proud of," says Kenneth Helgesson.

Production started in the summer of 2022, and by the ski season, the radiology facility was in place and ready for use. To meet such a tight schedule, prefabricating the building while groundwork is being done is necessary. For MedicSolution, the total implementation time was 17 weeks, including project planning and about four weeks of work on the construction site for assembly, testing, and training on the X-ray equipment. This ensured that ski tourists coming to the resorts in the area could feel the assurance of having nearby care if an accident were to occur.

"It's great that we quickly got a new functional and modern radiology facility so we didn't have to rely on transportation to other units. We want to be able to diagnose our patients on-site to quickly provide the right care," says Tord Olofsson.

"A functional and user-friendly radiology facility with good acoustics results in an attractive workplace where people are the focus. Exactly what all parties involved want," concludes Maria Quinn, Global Concept Developer for Healthcare Environments at Ecophon.