Pebble Project* partners, ER One at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and Herman Miller Healthcare recently released findings from their disaster-responsive emergency department project. Entitled, ‘Project ER One”, teams from both of these organizations worked together to create a strong emergency room infrastructure that can handle day-to-day operations along with a sudden influx of patients, that could happen when a natural disaster or terrorist attack occurs.
As part of the project, the team identified requirements and key problems that needed to be addressed. A top requirement for Project ER One was to create an emergency department that could be easily replicated in other hospitals. They also identified 10 key problems that affect how well emergency departments can respond in a crisis:
1. Inadequate surge capacity (not scalable)
2. Catastrophic degradation under stress
3. Unsafe re-circulated air
4. Unsafe surface contamination
5. Inadequate arrival/departure capacity
6. Poor control of entry points
7. Poor data availability
8. Poor external and internal communications
9. High dependency on external utilities
10. Inadequate decontamination capability
Next was to create design solutions to address these problems and compile their findings.
"We're doing research for a period of time to really understand how this environment responds better to the needs of the caregivers and the patients. We're looking at how it functions on a day-to-day basis to really better understand if it is supporting the caregivers'" says Jill Joseph, Design Lead for Herman Miller Healthcare.
To read more about Project ER One and their findings, click here.
Video by Herman Miller Healthcare | link to video
* The Pebble Project is The Center for Health Design’s main research initiative. The purpose of the work is to create change in the healthcare industry by providing researched and documented examples of healthcare facilities whose design has made a difference in improving patient and staff outcomes, as well as operating efficiency. For more information about the Pebble Project, email Mark Goodman at mgoodman [at] healthdesign [dot] org.
Looking for more information on ways to incorporate evidence-based design into your projects? Look no further! CHD is now offering two indispensable books at SALE prices. For a limited time only.
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A Practitioner's Guide to Evidence-Based Design serves as a guide on how to use evidence in design projects, and conduct research to assess effectiveness of design projects. The book focuses on practice based research as opposed to academic research. Stakeholders can even learn about the various ways to incorporate evidence-based design in design projects.
Exam registration is required by February 3. Space is limited so don’t delay!
While we are no longer accepting online registrations, we are accepting walk-in exam registrations at the conference. Simply print, fill out, and bring this registration form with you to the exam.
Benefits of becoming EDAC certified include:
• Public recognition of your expertise
• Increased value with clients and employers
• Ability to share a common language
• Skills to incorporate the newest findings into projects
• Credibility when justifying expenditures associated with design decisions and innovations
• Ability to create new research and add to the body of knowledge to advance the industry
• Visibility on a roster of certified EBD professionals
Enter the code PDC12 to receive a 10% discount fee.
Click here to learn more. Download our informational flyer here.
You didn't attend HEALTHCARE DESIGN.11 and missed out on taking the EDAC exam? Don't worry, we're extending our offer to HEALTHCARE DESIGN.11 attendees to you!
Submit your EDAC application now until December 31st, 2011 and receive our risk free offer: If you don’t pass the first time you can take the exam once more for free. Use code HCD11X on your application.
In the world of healthcare design and architecture, it's tough to keep track of the differences between accreditation, certification, licensure, and registration.
CHD's Sara Marberry, Carolyn Quist, and Donna Deckard take some of the mystery out of what each of these words mean in their new article on the Healthcare Design website. Click here to read more. >>
