Lourdes Health in Pasco is preparing to spend $2.5 million to renovate space and update equipment used to support its surgical operations.

The hospital has applied for a building permit to demolish and improve just under 1,500 square feet of space in its Central Sterile Services department on the ground floor. That department sterilizes and provides surgical equipment and support to its six operating rooms and other surgical needs at the hospital.

The project remains in the planning phase and a construction timeline has yet to be finalized, hospital spokeswoman Tina Baumgardner told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business.

“We are excited to move this project forward as part of our ongoing commitment to investing in the facilities, technology and resources that support high-quality care for patients across the Tri-Cities,” she said in an email. 

Lourdes, which is owned and operated by Tennessee-based Lifepoint Health, offers robotic, same-day and inpatient surgical services. Baumgardner said the renovations are aimed at supporting patient safety best practices, improving operational efficiency and workflow, and ensuring hospital teams have what they need to sterilize surgical instruments and support surgical services well into the future. 

The hospital will still be able to conduct surgeries during the renovation work. A temporary mobile sterile processing unit will be established throughout the renovation to avoid disrupting patient care.