Project
UC Irvine Health
Industry
Healthcare
Location
Orange County, CA
The Challenge:
Designing a Modern Hospital That Prioritizes Both Innovation and Infection Prevention
When UC Irvine Health began constructing its new $1.3 billion academic medical center in Irvine, the organization set out to establish a new standard for delivering exceptional healthcare. As the region’s only academic medical center, Level I trauma center, and tertiary care hospital, every technology decision needed to support clinical excellence while meeting the complex operational and regulatory demands of a modern healthcare environment.Â
From the earliest planning stages, UC Irvine Health recognized that healthcare technology and mobile devices would become some of the most frequently touched surfaces throughout the facility. Thousands of workstations, mounted computers, surgical workstations, pharmacy devices, and business continuity stations would support clinicians every day, making infection prevention an essential consideration during the design process rather than an afterthought.Â
The challenge was finding technology solutions that could withstand rigorous cleaning and disinfection, support diverse clinical workflows, optimize staff efficiency, and protect long-term IT investments.
The Solution:
Healthcare-Specific Technology Designed for Every Clinical Environment
Working closely with infection prevention, clinical leadership, and IT stakeholders, UC Irvine Health incorporated Seal Shield infection prevention solutions throughout the new hospital as part of its technology deployment strategy.Â
Rather than relying on standard keyboards bundled with computer systems, the organization selected Seal Shield washable keyboards in multiple form factors to meet the needs of its various clinical environments. Compact keyboards were installed in surgical areas where workspace was limited, while other models were deployed on wall-mounted computer arms and workstations throughout the hospital. This approach allowed each department to implement hardware tailored specifically to their workflow while ensuring every keyboard could be cleaned quickly and thoroughly.Â
To support emergency preparedness, UC Irvine Health also deployed distinctive red Seal Shield keyboards on Business Continuity Access (BCA) workstations. The highly visible keyboards enable staff to quickly identify downtime computers during network outages or other emergency situations.Â
The hospital also implemented Seal Shield medical-grade screen protectors in operating rooms and other high-value clinical environments to help protect expensive displays from repeated exposure to harsh disinfectants and accidental impacts, extending equipment lifecycles while supporting routine cleaning practices.Â
Infection prevention experts remained actively involved throughout every stage of planning and implementation, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to evaluate room layouts, refine clinical workflows, select equipment, and develop environmental cleaning protocols. Their involvement ensured infection prevention was not an afterthought, but a foundational element of the hospital’s design.Â
If I can reduce risk in some areas by putting in specialty devices, it gives us our own ROI on the back end.
The Impact
Creating a Cleaner, Smarter Healthcare Environment
By integrating infection prevention into technology planning from the beginning, UC Irvine Health successfully opened a state-of-the-art academic medical center designed to support clinicians, patients, and Environmental Services teams alike.Â
Today:Â
- Seal Shield washable keyboards are deployed across surgical suites, patient care areas, pharmacies, and Business Continuity Access (BCA) workstations.Â
- Seal Shield’s distinctive red keyboards help clinicians immediately identify emergency downtime computers during network outages.Â
- Seal Shield screen protectors help extend the lifespan of expensive clinical displays and integral mobile devices by protecting them from repeated disinfectant exposure and accidental damage.Â
- The successful deployment at the new Irvine campus now serves as a validated model for future expansion across UC Irvine Health’s Orange campus and community hospitals.Â
As UC Irvine Health continues expanding its digital infrastructure, the organization doesn’t view infection prevention as a separate initiative, but as an essential component of healthcare technology planning. By selecting technology designed specifically for healthcare environments and involving infection prevention experts from the earliest stages of construction, UC Irvine Health has created a scalable foundation that supports safer patient care, protects valuable technology assets, and sets a new standard for clinical workflows for years to come.Â
