Insights & Solutions

This program spotlights leading case studies that explore the use of lean principles in the planning and design of the emergency department. Hear an overview of LEAN and recent applications for how it may be used as an essential design tool. From that context, participants examine individual case studies including project background, lean principles applied, and results achieved. Attendees will examine: simulation modeling as a method for determining facility size of an ED; the impact of an operational process on space that improves the efficiency of patient wait times; process modeling that informs the size of waiting spaces; and clinical processes that inform the design of the emergency department.

As pressure mounts to increase efficiency, improve outcomes, and reduce costs and readmissions, the imperative to provide the right care at the right time in the right place is stronger than ever. While the staggering growth of ED volumes and the increasing complexity of inpatient care create delays and challenge throughput, an answer might be found somewhere in between the ED or outpatient visit and the traditional inpatient admission - The Observation Patient. A new CMS “2-Midnight” guideline that redefines inpatient care and with mounting pressure to reduce readmissions, the observation patient is at the center of many strategies aimed at making healthcare more efficient. 

This webinar will guide you through incorporating ambulatory care design trends and evidenced-based design principles when designing for ambulatory facilities. Learn from success stories at the UW Health – Yahara Clinic, an outpatient facility in Monona, Wisconsin. The presentation highlights Yahara Clinic’s operational concept of self-rooming and design for Integrated Care Team space. Post occupancy outcomes will be shared, including an 83% reduction in staff footsteps and 25% improvement in patient satisfaction scores. 

This session reviews the research and design implemented by HDR at Central Washington and how it integrated lean strategies and all 8 steps of the evidence-based design process to deliver a new patient bed tower. Learn how these strategies have impacted both work processes and employee satisfaction. The presenters will discuss their methodology and results from the research conducted, and how that research impacted the design of the hospital, its occupants, and the efficiency of the building.

This webinar highlights research and advancements in lighting design and their positive impact on healthcare environments and the patients and caregivers within them. "Spectrally Enhanced" lighting more closely resembles the color of daylight and can be used to reduce lighting levels while still achieving the same visual acuity. In addition, a growing body of research indicates that using the dimming and color changing capabilities of LED lighting technology to mimic the qualities of natural daylight may improve circadian rhythm, task performance, mood, and visual acuity. 

Three units were analyzed including Critical Care, Medical Oncology and Obstetrics in order to track clinical behaviors and to identify opportunities for improvement for the newly designed space. The travel study indicated for all units measured that the time spent on value added care, the time spent on direct care, and the aisle effectiveness all increased from current to future state workflow and generally outperformed the national benchmarks for their corresponding unit types. Additionally, review the process and results of the post-occupancy evaluation.

In 2012, The Center for Health Design received a grant from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) to develop a standard evidence-based tool for inpatient room design. In a three-phase process, this grant will result in design and evaluation tools for inpatient room design in Medical/Surgical Units, Adult Intensive Care Units (ICU) and Labor Delivery Recovery (LDR) and Maternity Units. The first phase of this project has been completed, resulting in a Beta-test, paper-based version of the Inpatient Room Design Checklist and POE tool for the Med/Surg Room which are shared in this presentation.

Patient falls are the most common adverse event reported in acute care settings, affecting from between 2% to 10% of annual hospital admissions. Patient falls cause increased morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and have significant cost impacts. One recent study examined the relationship of design factors in patient rooms to falls in 30 units in 15 hospitals. Results indicate key factors associated with higher numbers of falls, including multi-person rooms, shared toilet rooms, number and location of grab bars, and others. Explore the intrinsic and extrinsic factors on fall risk and the role design plays in mitigating these factors through real design solutions. 

This webinar discusses how different modeling and simulation approaches best serve different goals. Learn how statistical methods allow models to be run over time and predict future needs for people, space and equipment. Virtual reality and full scale mockup methods allow a wider range of stakeholders to meaningfully participate throughout a design process, including during early design. Modeling and simulation can also support and amplify the impact of an EBD-based design program. 

In 2011, The Center for Health Design published a glossary of healthcare environment terms and outcome measures commonly used in evidence-based design research for seven key healthcare topics, many of which are tied to CMS reimbursement formulas: health-care associated infections, medical errors, patient falls, patient satisfaction, patient waiting, staff efficiency and staff satisfaction. Learn about the methods used to create the EBD glossary, the work underway to expand the Glossary using the CHD Knowledge Repository, and how you might use this tool in your construction project, during your design education and with EBD research studies.