By HFT Staff

It’s a project that’s been years in the making, and now the countdown is on until patients can be treated at The University of New Mexico Hospital Critical Care Tower. As of Aug. 1, the construction project has officially received its temporary certificate of occupancy.  

Now the attention turns to the “activation” phase. 

Activation is a multifaceted phase, and a big part revolves around getting staff and providers familiar with the new space and layout. Every minute matters when treating patients, and that’s why spending several weeks in the activation phase is crucial.  

Planning out this phase takes months and requires detailed scheduling. The hospital also partners with local law enforcement and fire departments to ensure their staff know the layout of the building in case of emergencies.  

Another component of the activation phase at the UNM Critical Care Tower includes installing state-of-the-art equipment. Additionally, crews must move and install all the smaller items, such as furniture, office equipment and smaller medical devices.  

Over the next two months, staff will learn the layout to the new home of the adult ICUs and Emergency Department, as well as some radiology services which will also move to the new tower.  

The UNM Hospital Critical Care Tower is scheduled to start receiving patients the first week of October.