The University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH) is adopting a new healthcare industry standard by modeling a new look in its Critical Care Tower, KRQE reported. 

Traditionally, materials used for surgical suites are concrete or sheetrock, but this new look will have stainless-steel walls and cabinets. The Critical Care Tower will be the first location in New Mexico to make the swap to stainless steel, which is slated to include 18 operating rooms on Level 3, according to KRQE.    

“I am so excited that UNMH is creating a state-of-the-art medical  facility to be able to deliver more to the people of New Mexico," April Jaglo, hospital clinical facilities development executive director, said in a news release. "We are all relatively in the dark about what new technology will be available in 10 to 20 years. The stainless-steel wall system will allow UNMH to have a flexible infrastructure plan in place that will meet any needs in the future.”

Stainless-steel panels house about 50% less bacteria than standard  rooms, which will help keep the area clean, contributing to infection control. Another benefit is that repairs to the steel panels won’t take as long as they normally would with regular walls. Also, metal is very durable and steel is fire resistant, able to last an hour at up to 1,700 degrees, the release said.

“It’s not just the infection control, but also the appearance of  cleanliness and order,” Dr. Nivine Doran,  professor in the UNMH Department of Anesthesiology, said in the release. “It is more appealing to work in an environment that is clean. For an operating room, those are crucial elements.”