Streamlining Cardiac Procedures Through Smart Renovation

Renovation underway at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital’s cardiac catheterization lab, part of a $1 million investment to enhance heart care. Image: Courtesy of SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital

SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, IL is taking a significant step forward in cardiovascular care, investing more than $1 million to renovate and upgrade one of its cardiac catheterization (cath) labs with state-of-the-art imaging and diagnostic tools. The enhanced lab is designed to provide more precise procedures, reduce radiation exposure, and streamline patient care—underscoring the hospital’s long-term commitment to combating cardiovascular disease, the nation’s leading cause of death. Construction is scheduled for completion by mid-September.

Barak Wangler, RN, cardiac cath lab charge nurse, explained that several factors contributed to securing funding for the project. “One of the key factors involved was the age of the old X-Ray equipment, and the ability to provide greatly improved images while using less radiation and less contrast. This leads to safer environments for our patients and staff,” Wangler says. He also highlighted the expanding scope of cardiac and vascular interventions, noting that the upgraded lab will “enable us to see a larger patient population and perform procedures where previously patients might have had to travel over an hour to have access to.”

Solving operational and safety challenges

Beyond enhancing imaging quality, the investment addresses operational and workflow challenges. Wangler describes the limitations of the previous facility: “The way the room was designed before had lost some square footage that we needed for doing things like bi-ventricular device placements, and the limitations of the equipment kept us from being able to do adequate peripheral vascular work. We have now taken back some of that space and created better workflows to allow more cases to be done and done much more efficiently than before.”

The renovation fundamentally reimagines the lab’s layout. Wangler says of the the design changes, “We have redesigned the room from the floor to the ceiling. We have capitalized on every square foot of the room and maximized the room's space for efficiency and utility. We are adding a monitor room inside the lab which will allow all staff to be present in the room during the case. We have redesigned where our medical gases originate from and will remove previous obstacles and trip hazards. The result will be a cath lab with an exceptionally streamlined flow for patients and procedures while eliminating the need to walk around equipment to get supplies.”

Renovating an active hospital environment posed additional challenges. Wangler says, “We have had to deal with construction noise, short downtimes both during and after hours while certain items have had to be turned off, redirected and then turned back on. During this time, we have had a mobile lab to accommodate extra volume which requires a lot of movement for the patients and staff to get into and out of the lab. We have had to re-think how we keep supplies as we have lost a large supply space during construction. In addition to this we had to create a custom CODE BLUE and STEMI plan for the mobile lab and perform several ‘mock’ codes to train staff hospital wide on how to respond to emergencies in the mobile lab.”

Next-generation technology and radiation safety

The upgraded Cath lab will feature several cutting-edge technologies aimed at improving patient safety, outcomes, and operational efficiency. Key enhancements include integrated ultrasound and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) systems, which improve access site safety and vessel visualization. Wangler highlighted the benefits: “The ability for an Integrated IVUS will also dramatically improve vessel visualization and lead to an increase in revenue and increased patient outcomes.”

Radiation safety is a priority. “We expect to see a reduction of scatter radiation up to potentially 70 percent or more with this system due to its use of beam modulation and partial exposure modes,” Wangler says. “With some newer radiation stopping techniques and supplies, we could see a scatter reduction of up to 80 percent. This would make physicians and staff significantly safer over time. This truly is the next step forward for a cath lab in the modern world.”

Future-proofing for efficiency and growth

The lab’s design also anticipates evolving technologies, regulatory requirements, and patient needs. Wangler says, “As everything in healthcare needs to be considered for the future, this new lab will help us stay compliant with increasing regulatory requirements for X-ray equipment, it will attract more referrals from our community and potentially beyond that. This system has several pathways for upgrades as well which will allow us to meet the evolving world of health care with things like AI, decreased energy consumption, more seamless image and data sharing, and a greatly expanded service line.”

Leaders expect operational benefits, including reduced case times, expanded service lines, and the ability to attract top physician and staff talent. “The options here will only be limited by us, but this new lab is an opportunity to greatly expand upon what we are already doing, which is serving our community with exceptional care,” Wangler says.

The upgrades at Good Samaritan Hospital go beyond a standard renovation, focusing on improved patient care, staff safety, and operational efficiency. With updated technology, optimized workflows, and a design that accommodates future needs, the lab aims to support cardiovascular care for the community for years to come.