Sterile instruments may be small, but storing them takes serious space and serious planning. They’ve got to be clean, secure, and ready to go the second someone needs them. So what happens when you’ve got a brand-new emergency department and zero sterile instrument storage?
That’s the puzzle the team at NCH Healthcare’s Northeast Emergency Department in Naples, Florida needed to solve.
This freestanding emergency department wasn’t built for surgeries. No operating rooms, no central core, no sprawling back-of-house. Just a small footprint, a tall ceiling, and a constant stream of patients coming through the door. They needed a sterile instrument storage solution that wouldn’t get in the way and could still keep up with the pace of care.
So, what do you do when floor space runs out? You go up.
Small Room, Big List of Needs
Unlike most hospitals, the NCH Northeast Emergency Department wasn’t built around surgery. If a patient might need an operation, they’re sent to one of the system’s larger hospitals. But for broken bones, deep cuts, and everything in between, this is where they land.
That distinction matters. It meant no basement packed with supplies, no central distribution core. Just one 21x20-foot storage room — and every inch was spoken for.
“It was a really small room,” said Sue Facteau, then System Manager for Central Distribution at NCH. “In addition to general storage for things like gloves and patient consumables, we also needed secure storage for things like IV solutions and pharmacy back-up.”
On paper, it looked like a good candidate for high-density shelving. But when Patterson Pope got eyes on the actual space, reality set in: even mobile shelving wouldn’t fit.
One tech joked, “We used to stack boxes to the ceiling and hope gravity stayed on our side.” It was the same old story: Way too much stuff, not nearly enough room. (Except this time it was literal.)
When Floor Space Runs Out, Go Vertical
Some challenges call for a little creative elevation. With traditional shelving off the table, Patterson Pope recommended something built for tight footprints and tall ceilings: the Rotomat® Vertical Carousel by Hänel.
Instead of spreading out, the Rotomat stacks up. Think of it as a Ferris Wheel for sterile instrument storage. (But instead of cotton candy and keychains, it’s stocked with gauze, IV fluids, and everything a fast-moving ED needs.)
Fully enclosed and computer-controlled, the Rotomat delivers the exact shelf you ask for through a single secure opening — no ladder, no rummaging, no wasted motion.
“The Rotomat solved [our] issue by accommodating a large quantity of medical specialty supplies in a small area,” said Facteau. “Unlike the two hospital-based NCH emergency departments, this facility does not have an on-site central distribution area.”
For a 420-square-foot room with 13-foot ceilings, it was a perfect match. The ED team installed two Rotomats, each equipped with rows of bins to organize everything from daily consumables to specialty backstock. That combination of vertical efficiency and secure access turned a cramped room into a streamlined supply hub.
A Win for Workflow (and Floor Space)
Once the Rotomats were in place, the difference was immediate. What used to feel like an overstuffed closet now worked like a purpose-built supply hub. No more digging through boxes or guessing what went where. Everything had a place. Everything stayed protected. And everything was easier to access.
The extra storage capacity meant fewer deliveries and a lot less time moving pallets or restocking shelves. For staff, it was one less thing to worry about in a fast-moving emergency setting.
“We don’t have a traditional supply area here, so we needed something that could hold a lot and be easy to use,” said Facteau. “The Rotomats checked both boxes. The team from Patterson Pope really understood that we couldn’t afford downtime or delays, and they made sure everything worked the way it needed to.”
And if the power ever goes out? The Rotomats have dual motors and stay connected to the backup generator, so supplies keep spinning even when everything else stops. No pauses, no panic.
Small Space. Big Win.
In a room where every square inch felt spoken for, the Rotomats didn’t just make space. They gave the team time, clarity, and confidence. Sterile instrument storage doesn’t need to be flashy. It just needs to work — and keep working — no matter what.
At the NCH Northeast Emergency Department, going vertical made all the difference. The Rotomats didn’t just fit. They delivered. Like a perfectly timed note in a complex rhythm, the upgrade helped keep care moving, even when space was tight.
Want the full story? Check out the complete NCH case study here. Or, contact a Patterson Pope representative today to find the right sterile instrument storage for your own tight space.
