Story

Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Inova Health System continues to lead in evidence-based cardiovascular care through Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. Our team delivered a patient-centric design with this modernization of two 14,500-sf patient units on the first and second floors, reinforcing Inova’s position as the trusted provider in the community. Each floor includes 24 updated rooms, two main team stations, more intimate and collaborative staff work areas, and additional staff support areas to provide the best patient and staff experience while improving operational efficiency. Each floor also includes two isolation rooms equipped with anterooms and room pressure monitoring. These isolation rooms have independent MEP systems, like exhaust ductwork, that extend directly to the roof. Prioritizing safety and minimizing risks is essential; this design significantly reduces the risk of exposure to potentially infectious diseases for adjacent patients. To enhance patient care using technology and create a calm, home-like setting, each patient room is fully equipped with new Amico Headwalls, Caregility virtual nurse system, and custom footwall cabinetry. Finishes throughout the units were upgraded to reflect Inova’s updated brand standards, with modern millwork, neutral-tone flooring, and soothing paint colors to promote a serene atmosphere. The bathrooms received Stonhard flooring, a sustainable material selected for cleanliness, leak protection, and durability. MEP infrastructure upgrades improved the space’s functionality and allowed new room technology to be adequately supported. Additional scope, including headwall assemblies and mold remediation, was added mid-renovation for safety and to enhance the patient experience. With close coordination with BION and VarcoMac, two of our subcontractor partners, we completed these scope changes without impacting the project timeline. The greatest challenge was coordinating the below-slab plumbing and electrical tie-ins at each level. To complete the below-slab work for Phase 1, our team rigorously scheduled room takeovers on the active floor below for plumbing tie-ins and electrical rough-ins months in advance and coordinated extensively with various end users. This early and careful planning ensured that the duration of each room’s take-over was as short as possible. Located overtop of active catheterization and electrophysiology labs, Phase 2 required weekend closures to complete below-slab plumbing tie-ins and electrical rough-ins. The noisy demolition and hanger and duct installation were scheduled on off-hours to minimize disruption to hospital operations and mitigate patient impact when the hospital census was lower. Targeted noisy work areas were coordinated with the hospital staff to relocate patients to rooms for safety and a more calming experience. Due to the critical nature of this space and the urgency for bringing this project online, early coordination and consistent communication with stakeholders ensured the renovation was delivered as quickly as possible. This refreshed, bright, and welcoming setting combines with Inova’s integrated team approach to care to result in outstanding patient outcomes, placing Inova Schar Heart and Vascular as one of the region’s premier hospitals for care.