A key decision when planning an intensive care unit is whether to use a flat headwall or a ceiling-mounted boom for power, medical gases, and monitoring and communications systems. The traditional headwall system provides consistency and predictability in a room’s configuration and the location of equipment and supplies. A boom provides added flexibility in how the room is configured and provides easier access to the patient’s head and electrical/gas wall connections. Headwalls range in cost from $6,000-$8,000 while dual-arm booms may cost from $25,000 to $30,000. Factors to be considered include patient acuity; frequency of full-head access; whether procedures will be performed at the bedside; and budget.
Source: GenesisNews, March 2016. [www.genesis-planning.com]