Hospital supply rooms don’t get a lot of glory, but they sure get a lot of traffic. And when they’re cramped, cluttered, or confusing, it slows everything down. From central sterile to emergency backups to supply closets tucked behind nurses’ stations, poor organization adds stress, wastes time, and creates risks no hospital can afford.
Here’s the kicker: most supply rooms weren’t designed for today’s pace. Inventory needs have grown. Compliance rules have gotten stricter. And floor space has (somehow) gotten smaller.
That's why good hospital supply room organization is about more than just making things look tidy. It's about keeping care moving. In this blog, we'll talk through three real-world challenges hospitals are facing today, and how smart storage solutions (plus a little creative thinking) helped solve them.
Challenge #1: Sterile Storage That Fails the Clean Test
In sterile processing departments, storage is as much a matter of compliance as it is convenience. When shelves are overflowing, trays get stacked, and instruments become hard to find, the stakes go way beyond frustration. Pinholes in packaging, slow restocking, and cluttered workspaces can all lead to failed audits, safety concerns, and delays in patient care.
That was the issue Owensboro Health wanted to avoid when designing their new hospital in Kentucky. The old SPD was cramped and inefficient: tight corners, poor flow, and overworked shelves made it tough to stay ahead of the day’s 50-60 surgical cases. There wasn’t enough room to move, and there definitely wasn’t enough organization to move quickly.
So when it came time to plan their new space, they started fresh. Patterson Pope worked directly with Owensboro's SPD team and the project architects to build a sterile core that worked, not just on paper, but actually in real life.
The solution combined mobile shelving, color-coded instrument storage, and stainless steel casework that could stand up to harsh cleaners and fast-moving workflows. Stainless steel pegboards, baskets, and shelving created a clean, corrosion-resistant setup that was easy to sanitize and even easier to keep organized.
“We so appreciate the fact that it’s not a cookie-cutter solution,” said Chris Edwards, then-SPD Director at Owensboro. “Each of our services’ instruments is now color-coded, so the specialty nurses can more easily find what they’re looking for.”
Now, instead of losing time and losing track, Owensboro’s staff has a space that’s clean, efficient, and ready to scale. And when other hospitals tour the facility, they take notes.
Challenge #2: Too Little Room, Too Much to Store
For many hospitals, square footage is already at a premium. For supply rooms, that usually means making do with less: less shelving, less flexibility, less breathing room. But tight footprints don't mean you have to sacrifice storage. You just have to start thinking up, not out.
That was the situation at the NCH Northeast Emergency Department in Naples, Florida. The team needed a secure, accessible way to store supplies, but their designated storage room was just 420 square feet. Not nearly enough floor space for high-density shelving, and no room to build out.
But what the room lacked in width, it made up for in height — over 13 feet of it. That’s where Patterson Pope came in with a different approach: the Hanel Rotomat® Vertical Carousel. The system works like a Ferris wheel for supplies, bringing trays directly to staff with the push of a button. No ladders, or digging, or hunting down the right shelf. Just clean, secure, vertical access.
“The Rotomat solved our issue by accommodating a large quantity of medical specialty supplies in a small area,” said Sue Facteau, then-System Manager of Central Distribution at NCH. “Unlike the two hospital-based NCH emergency departments, this facility does not have an on-site central distribution area.”
The ED installed two Rotomats to house critical consumables and backup items. Supplies that once had to fight for space now had clearly labeled bins, housed in an enclosed, computer-controlled system that kept everything organized and ready. For the staff, the Rotomats helped keep their focus on control, access, and care, not on where the gauze ended up.
Challenge #3: Not Enough Space for the Big Stuff
Even in well-stocked hospitals, it's easy for organization to fall apart. Overflow ends up in hallways, and spare equipment winds up in back corners. Before long, supply rooms become obstacle courses, slowing staff down in environments where every second matters.
AnMed Health was feeling that pinch across all three of its campuses. Beds — yes, full-size hospital beds — were being stashed wherever space could be found: in patient corridors, crowded maintenance rooms, even old pallet racks that required forklifts to access. It wasn’t safe, or efficient, or least of all sustainable.
That’s where Patterson Pope stepped in with a smarter solution: the Vidir Bedlift. These vertical storage units allow beds to be safely stacked up to five high, freeing up floor space while keeping beds easily accessible.
Across AnMed's main hospital, north campus, and distribution center, the Bedlifts doubled (and even tripled) storage capacity without adding square footage. In one facility, bed storage increased from 10 to 18 units while reducing the overall space needed.
“Getting away from the forklift was a huge advantage for us,” said Brian Little, AnMed’s Environmental Services Project Manager. “The system is really a backsaver. You’re not having to manually shift beds off a forklift. The ease of use is huge for our guys.”
Hospital supply room organization doesn't stop at the shelves. Whether it's beds, carts, or crash equipment, clearing clutter from your storage areas keeps staff moving and lets patient care stay the priority.
Got a Mess? We've Got Ideas.
Every hospital supply room comes with its own set of challenges. But whether you're dealing with compliance risks, tight footprints, or hallway overflow, one thing holds true: better organization makes everything run smoother.
That's where we come in. At Patterson Pope, we help hospitals find practical solutions that fit the space, the workflow, and the people doing the work. From sterile cores to back rooms to bulk storage, we've seen just about every setup. And we're experts at making your space work better for you.
Looking for ideas? Check out our Healthcare Storage 101 guide. Or if you're ready to rethink your hospital supply room organization, reach out to a Patterson Pope representative today. We've got a few tricks up our (storage-optimized) sleeves.
