University of Utah Orthopaedic Center -- University of Utah Research Park, Salt Lake City, Utah

Serving the Intermountain West, the new University Orthopaedic Center represents the realization of the client’s long time goal – consolidation of its disparate components under one roof to better serve patients. The project houses: Orthopedic Surgery, Diagnostic Imaging, Orthopedic Clinics, Physical Therapy, Diagnostic Radiography, Resident & Fellow education space, Medical Library, and Administrative Offices.

Inpatient Rooms are skewed to improve patient access to daylight and views. Wood clad walls at reception and registration desks lean and rotate to make themselves known to visitors.

The biggest drivers of a patient’s willingness to “brag about, recommend, or return” to the facility is wait times, parking, and pain. All measures have improved in a significant manner. Clinic patient volumes have increased 23%. Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy have increased patient load by 35%. Cycle time (patient check-in to patient checkout) has improved by 29%. Surgery volume is up over 11%. In sum, the facility design drives reduced cost, better clinical outcomes, and happier workers and patients.

The University of Utah Orthopaedic Center received the Intermountain Contractor Silver Design Award in 2005 and was named "Facility of the Month" by Healthcare Construction and Operations in March, 2005