Lower Level 2: Imaging and Procedure Center

In Stead Family Children's Hospital

200 Hawkins Drive Iowa City, IA 52242 United States

Lower Level 2
Clinic
Lower Level 2 graphical icon of a barn

The imaging and procedure center in our new hospital will combine imaging, sedation, procedures, and recovery in one place. This approach is designed to provide better care and reduce stress for patients and families. Locating these services together also will improve operational efficiency and foster teamwork among employees.

Lower Level 2 at a Glance:

  • One hearing test room that includes an audio booth with two testing sides. Sedated hearing tests will move from Otolaryngology in John Pappajohn Pavilion (JPP) of Medical Center on the University Campus.
  • Two waiting rooms: a large family waiting room and a waiting room for patients dressed in gowns for a procedure.
  • Three induction rooms where anesthesia will be given.
  • Six procedure rooms for a variety of procedures. One will offer dental procedures for pediatric patients with complex medical conditions.
  • Seven imaging and radiology rooms, including two ultrasound rooms, two X-ray rooms, a computed tomography (CT) room, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) room, and a fluoroscopy room. There is also space to allow for the addition of a second MRI machine in the future. Nuclear scans and positron emission tomography (PET) scans will continue to take place in radiology.
  • 15 private prep/recovery rooms

Convenience: Prep and recovery will often take place in the same room, close to where testing will occur. This means families won’t need to move from one area of the hospital to another. The new layout also allows patients to undergo several types of tests in the same area.

Streamlined Check-in: There will be one registration desk on Lower Level 2. Families will check in once per visit on this floor, even if more than one test is being done.

More Procedure Rooms: Lower Level 2 has six procedure rooms. Currently, there is only one in the Pediatric Specialty Clinic (PSC). The extra space in our new hospital means more tests and procedures can be performed in a single day. By increasing capacity, wait times for appointments may be decreased. Added capacity also will allow families to receive results sooner.

More Prep/Recovery Rooms: The number of prep/recovery rooms for imaging and procedures will increase from seven in the PSC to 15 in our new hospital.

Family-centered Environment: After check-in, families will wait in a spacious, cheerful waiting room. The artwork and furniture have been chosen with pediatric patients and families in mind.

Presence of Specially Trained Staff: Every member of our care team has experience and training in pediatrics. This means they are equipped to deal with the unique emotional and medical needs of pediatric patients.

Enhanced Privacy: Every prep/recovery room is a single room. This will increase comfort and privacy for patients and families.  

Quicker CT machine: Our new CT scanner will generate lifelike images with improved resolutions to help physicians diagnose what is happening in a patient’s body. The scanner, manufactured by Siemens, is the first of its kind to be installed in the United States. The faster speed will reduce sedation and breath-holding in most cases. At the same time, it will use lower doses of radiation for enhanced safety. The need for contrast will be reduced, too, making the imaging process easier for patients and families.

Kid-Friendly Distractions: Getting an MRI or undergoing a procedure can be scary and confusing for children. Studies have shown that the right type of distraction can help reduce the need for sedation. Fiber optic lights will decorate ceilings, and floors will include colorful patterns. Artwork featuring Iowa landscapes will be displayed in patients’ line of sight.

Help from Child Life: Child life specialists are part of the health care team and will have a daily presence on this level. Through the use of play and other forms of communication, a child life specialist helps reduce the stress and helps enable children and families to cope with medical experiences. In turn, this helps reduce anxiety. In fact, evidence shows that the presence of child life can reduce the need for sedation.

Without sedation, recovery is quicker. Depending on the test, no sedation may mean that patients won’t have to restrict food and drink before tests. It can be hard for young children to understand the need for these rules, which increases stress.