Cutting-edge medicine depends on coordinated workflows
The Anna-Seiler-Haus is the main building of the University Hospital of Bern, commonly known as the 'Inselspital' and widely regarded as one of Europe's most prestigious university hospitals. But this new building is far more than just a functional addition to the existing hospital complex: it combines the highest standards of research, teaching and patient care, from acute to long-term needs. This requires careful coordination of all the processes involved, from clinical and nursing workflows to technical servicing and maintenance.
"It's the kind of environment where every movement counts. Everything is tightly scheduled – from patient care to cleaning and logistics. And if the processes don't work in harmony, it has a direct impact on the quality of care," says Niklaus Gähler, head of Hygiene Technology/PPE and member of the Executive Board of MEIKO (Suisse) AG.
Technology that supports caregivers
This principle was also applied to the design of the hospital's dirty utility rooms: MEIKO supplied a total of 56 TopLine washer-disinfectors to kit out the rooms, each tailored to the Insel Group's demanding standards. "Among other features, the slop sink flushing system comes with a signal memory function,“ says Gähler.
And the MEIKO appliances offer plenty of other benefits; for example, their steamtight design means they don't create excessive noise or emit steam that could worsen the indoor climate. That's an important benefit in a busy care environment.
PLANNING WELL-STRUCTURED WORKFLOWS
A key element of this project was the spatial planning of the utility rooms: clean and dirty areas are kept strictly separate – a forward‑looking standard that is applied consistently throughout the Anna‑Seiler‑Haus. "Clear segregation and a well‑planned layout ensure all the processes run cleanly and efficiently, without any cross‑contamination or unnecessarily long distances. Everything works together seamlessly," says Gähler.
The rollout of the new machines also went smoothly, because their operation is identical to previous MEIKO models. "That was a huge relief for the care staff because they could just get on with the job with no big changeover and no need for additional training," says Gähler. The technical services team was equally pleased to be working with familiar systems that didn't require any additional maintenance.
A PARTNER YOU CAN RELY ON
With an ambitious installation schedule, distribution across several floors, and long waits for the lifts, the project logistics were certainly challenging – but MEIKO met all the deadlines. "It shows how MEIKO can deliver a job with precision and reliability even when time is tight. I'm proud that we were part of this project," Gähler says. "It wasn't just about delivering appliances – it was about improving the whole care workflow. And in a hospital the size of this one, that's a really challenging task!"
While all the processes run smoothly below, the Loops continue their dance above, silently setting the pace as everyone goes about their work. From the staff providing outstanding care – one shift after the next – to the technicians that provide essential support in the background. And, of course, the patients – who rely on everything running like clockwork.
