When planning an upgrade, most hospitals consider the OT light itself. Model, brightness, and cost. Fair enough. However, lighting is the easy part. It’s the surrounding, when it comes to whether your theatre opens on time: the ceiling work, the wiring, who signs off, the cleaning, whether your nurses know the new controls on day one…
Little things go wrong every day. Another theatre has to close for an additional two days as it does not have any scaffolding booked on it. Or the infection control check is not performed while the light is on. If you are in Hyderabad and thinking of this, an early meeting with your short listed OT light manufacturers in Hyderabad is a must, before you choose the date for the surgeons.
The first thing one must do is to be clear about what he is doing.
Replacing an existing light? Would you like to add another one? Installing a new OT from scratch? They are all different work positions. Record the current light position and how you would like the new position to be. Pass it on to your engineering team for them to let you know what they need to check or adjust.
The things people tend to miss are the ceiling. Note that the false ceiling you see is not the slab or frame above it. Find out from the supplier what the mounting requirements are and have your own engineers carefully read through them. Do not assume that the old light has to be on the old fixing plate for the new light to go on the same.
Record all activities and who is responsible for them on one sheet.
Who puts out the old light? Who installs the electrical systems? Who installs the ceiling after? Who sets up the ladder/scaffolding and who picks up the boxes and old parts? Not all this will be included in the supplier’s quote. Better to know at this time than on the day of installation.
Designate one individual from the hospital side as the “go to” person, and determine who will be able to approve changes. Many times, installers face minor inquiries on the job site. After 12 hours they wait for someone to say yes, and the schedule goes out the window.
To prevent tripping or stumbling on the lights, examine the room configuration prior to powering them on.
See the light moving around after the operating table is set up, pendants and monitors installed. Is it going to collide with something? Where will it park when nobody is using it? In the event of a conflict, it might be necessary to use another mounting point. Much simpler to resolve on paper than when drilled.
If you are comparing operation theatre lights in Hyderabad, inquire about the model you are viewing. How is it electrically connected? What type of controls do you have? In case of power failure, do you have an alternative available? Your engineers will then know if it will work for your supply. Need a bit more information on the format? The Ventek OT line of lights provides a good idea of what to ask about.
Not “room ready” = not “light delivered”.
Create a basic checklist of items ready. Approvals done? Access sorted? Prep work finished? Mark all of it off before contacting the installation personnel. You don’t have a checklist for a WhatsApp message that reads “room is ready.
It is up to your hospital to decide when to reopen the OT, following your own procedures. A supplier OT Light Upgrade in a Hyderabad Hospital may claim a couple of days for the installation but it is only for installing. There are still inspections, cleaning, paperwork and your own sign-offs. Don’t agree to a date only on the basis of the installer’s estimate.
Provide a decent list to the receiving staff.
Upon receipt of the boxes, verify the model and contents with the purchase order. Are there accessories and documents there? If there is any damage, notify it as requested by the supplier. Do not leave the instructions for handling with the unpackers.
If your technical team and supplier require them, keep any records needed during the commissioning process. Record the presence of all participants and what is still to be done. During handover, record the model and serial number. It is too little, too late, when six months later you read “Surgical light fitted” on a form.
Do not close the file until support is sorted!
Provide OT staff with a correct installation and clean up of light. Place the instructions where they will be easily located. Read the warranty’s coverage, maintenance requirements and know the local people to contact in case of any problems. A name and a phone number go over any “full support”
If it’s done correctly, you will end up with a light installed, paperwork complete, and people who know what to do if there is a problem. You should plan for it from the beginning and things will go a lot smoother. Everyone also understands the meaning of “finished.Everyone also understands the meaning of “finished.
