Submit a Comment! Review the Newsletter! Compliments to the publisher of this news letter. It really puts things into perspective. As a HI Consultant, we need to embrace and listen to patients and continue to improve on quality design. -Rohan N., Healthcare Innovation Consultant I found the first lesson [of Understanding the Patient in Patient-Centered Design] to be well done. Please let me know when new lessons are available. -Randolph, Architect I think this is an excellent source to find out what other design professionals as well as views from the patient's perspective to provide viable solutions which will give the patient a positive experience and shorter stay. This will also enhance the hospitals bottom line by turning beds more quickly. And don't forget, Medicare uses the patient surveys to validate reimbursements. -Michael, healthcare furniture/storage sales I find the articles relevant and helpful. -Tarek, designer I am anxious to find more information on patient centered design. I have designed several hospitals with patient focused outpatient centers and patient empowered patient rooms. The more I learn, the more there is to learn. -Doug, health care architect Great, another good resource for information about healthcare from all perspectives; designers, providers and patients/families! -Don, healthcare designer This is a great website! -Julie Great site! - Gayle Looking forward to involvement… -Thomas --------------------------------- If you share our mission, please click here to learn how you may support our initiatives. There are many ways to support our programs by just a click... * The views and opinions expressed on PatientCenteredDesign.org do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Inc. We respect the rights of patients, family members and professionals to express their opinions and welcome comments on the topics published in our newsletter. We reserve the right to publish comments and letters submitted to our site at our discretion. These submissions may be edited for writing style and length. Full or partial comments may appear in the publication. Publication of submitted comments does not constitute a contractual agreement for compensation, nor does it represent an endorsement of any kind. Comments are submitted and shared on a voluntary basis. Persons submitting comments certify that the comments submitted are their own, they have not been previously published and that no copyright laws have been violated through the submission of such comments. By submitting on this site, authors of said comments grant Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Inc. (publisher nonexclusive rights to publish their comments. A “nonexclusive” right allows authors to publish their works in other publications after being published at PatientCenteredDesign.org. For more information on our disclaimers, please see our legal page. Introducing our New Continuing Education Series: Understanding the Patient in Patient- Centered DesignTM Lesson I: Designing for Patient Empowerment Lesson II: The Challenges of Extended Postpartum Recovery for NICU Mothers: A proposed architectural solution Lesson III: Antepartum Spaces: Design considerations to address the unique needs of expectant mothers |
Tell Us what You Think!!!
There are many voices in the healthcare design arena. We value your
opinion. Take a look at what some of our readers have to say.*
I was very impressed at the class you presented at the AIA GA conference
last week. I would like to join your organization and contribute when
possible.
-Ray B., Architect
I'm so glad to see the words of Chris Downey. I work with Chris at The
Design Partnership on the VA Palo Alto project and his dedication and
devotion is an inspiration to everyone. He is a natural leader with real
vision, but no sight.
-Marc S., Architect
I have just read the article entitled “The Challenges of Extended Postpartum
Recovery for NICU Mothers: A proposed architectural solution," and I found
it very interesting and well thought. I am an architect who has devoted most
of her architectural career in Hospital Design and Planning. I currently want
to advance my knowledge in the latest trends in Health Care Design such
as Evidence Based Design Research and LEED for Hospitals. My main goal
is to participate more actively in the Health Care Environment Design
Community. Therefore I believe that your organization is providing a
tremendous insight in the latest trends of health care design...
-Angela P., Architect
It is very important for any healthcare facility planning to do a new project, to
use a company with healthcare facility design experience. Look at their
project portfolio and interview them. We have worked with hundreds of user
groups who have patients as part of the group.
- Tracey, Senior Partner
I discovered your newsletter a couple of months ago and appreciate the
great resource you have put in place. While I am an architect who
specializes in healthcare design, I am also someone who has experience
as both a patient and family member dealing with extreme and prolonged
illness. I liked your reader’s question about health report cards because I
feel that primary care doctors don’t do a good enough job of reviewing
health statistics and certainly of providing a “take away” for patients. Online
access to charts or health information is perhaps a helpful and inevitable
trend. However, since we are all barraged with information on a daily basis,
this information only becomes useful if it is part of a health plan that you and
your doctor monitor together.
The implications I see for design are twofold:
1. The design of the exam room needs to change. While most do include a
charting area, it is usually quite small and does not enable the patient and
doctor to sit side by side to review either on-screen or printed information.
Many patients do not even use an exam table for most doctor visits, so it
might even be beneficial to have consult rooms vs. exam rooms. The
consult room could have some of the same elements as a typical exam
room like Blood pressure cuff, oto/opthamoscope, hand washing sink and
supply/work counter. However, instead of an exam table, the room might
feature a table and chairs- allowing the doctor to do a routine check of vitals,
then spend the majority of the time reviewing the results of the exam within
the context of the patient’s health history and health trends. Especially for
those with chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes who visit
the doctor on a monthly basis, this type of room would be far more
comfortable and conducive to their needs. It would enable the patient,
physician and any accompanying family member to share the events of the
visit within the context of a health profile. A table would also allow both
doctor and patient to bring along their own supplemental materials to share
or record the events of the visit.
2. If a dialogue is encouraged, physician assistants need to have computer
workstations where they can do a daily monitoring of patient results and
respond to any emails or requests for information from patients. It’s a much
more hands-on and higher level of care than most doctors offices are used
to delivering, but I see this as a trend that would also affect the physical
space of an office in order to provide a private and secure location to view
and respond to patient information.
Thank you for inviting readers to express their views. I look forward to
viewing the feedback from this letter.
-Angela M., Architect
Thirty years as a corporate designer, first universal design project 18 years
ago. Experience with family, friends and personally have enlightened me to
view our built environments from the eyes of a person with an ability
challenge. Most professional designs are based on legal standards but still
do not meet the basic needs of the person who will use them. For example:
A new high rise of luxury senior living housing built with "curbed" showers.
Curbless showers are NOT just for wheelchairs - they prevent falls - for
people with sight issues, MS [Multiple Sclerosis], Parkinson's, weakness and
many other issues. This design oversight can CAUSE an ability-changing
(life-changing) needless accident.
-Ann-Marie, Designer/Patient/Advocate
Patients with sickle cell disease face the challenge of coping with frequent
intermittent episodes of acute pain because of their condition. Pain is real to
this population of individuals; therefore pain management is significant. No
one should have to use the emergency department, sitting around for hours
waiting to receive pain management….it is not practical, cost effective, or
conducive to patient-centered care, which quality is the focal point.
Unfortunately, this happens to be the reality for many sickle cell patients
around the country…having no access to 24-hour urgent care clinics for
pain management. A sickle cell crisis can happen anytime, but what are
their options for treatment if their crisis occurs after office hours? In my role
as a RN, I have provided direct-patient care to many individuals with this
inherited blood disorder and pain management is the most significant issue
once the patient is in crisis...
Pain management should always be significant to patient care regardless of
diagnosis for comfort, dignity, and respect. It simply makes sense to
advocate for 24-hour urgent care clinics. Patients who are susceptible to
having severe pain crises should be able to receive pain management in a
timing manner rather than waiting in the emergency department.
-Melinda, Nurse
Designing the places we live begins with the psychological experience &
Form+Function will follow. Whether it's reducing the anxiety of a patient or
helping a couple feel at home in their living room, all spaces affect our mind
and emotions. When design values the psychological aspects in addition to
the physical, it creates a ripple effect. More fulfilled clients, staff, or patients
leads to improved quality of life, growth, and productivity.
-Jefferey, Architect
From 2004-2006, I was a 24/7 caregiver for my daughter's cancer treatment,
and I now sit on a family advisory board to her former children's hospital
oncology division. One of the things I learned was the disparity between
higher childhood cancer survival rates and lower adult survival rates for
similar cancers (leukemias/lymphomas). Of course there are many factors
involved, but I cannot help but wonder whether the physical environment of
oncology facilities plays a role. The life-affirming decor, playrooms, family-
friendly design flow, and even bicycles allowed on the treatment floor make
most pediatric cancer facilities in the US much more "healing" environments
than adult facilities. They understand a child's work is to play, regardless of
being attached to an IV pole. Couldn't a similar emphasis on play be
incorporated into adult facilities?
-Erin, Caregiver to cancer patient
The design of patient rooms is becoming more challenging every day.
This concerns both ambulatory care, patient accommodations, as well as
for LTHC [Long-term health care] facilities. For whatever time the patient
has to spend in a patient room, the experience has to be satisfying from the
point of view of ambiance, privacy and functionality for both the patient as
well as the nursing staff.
-Tariq, Doctor/Healthcare Consultant
There are many voices in the healthcare design arena. We value your
opinion. Take a look at what some of our readers have to say.*
I was very impressed at the class you presented at the AIA GA conference
last week. I would like to join your organization and contribute when
possible.
-Ray B., Architect
I'm so glad to see the words of Chris Downey. I work with Chris at The
Design Partnership on the VA Palo Alto project and his dedication and
devotion is an inspiration to everyone. He is a natural leader with real
vision, but no sight.
-Marc S., Architect
I have just read the article entitled “The Challenges of Extended Postpartum
Recovery for NICU Mothers: A proposed architectural solution," and I found
it very interesting and well thought. I am an architect who has devoted most
of her architectural career in Hospital Design and Planning. I currently want
to advance my knowledge in the latest trends in Health Care Design such
as Evidence Based Design Research and LEED for Hospitals. My main goal
is to participate more actively in the Health Care Environment Design
Community. Therefore I believe that your organization is providing a
tremendous insight in the latest trends of health care design...
-Angela P., Architect
It is very important for any healthcare facility planning to do a new project, to
use a company with healthcare facility design experience. Look at their
project portfolio and interview them. We have worked with hundreds of user
groups who have patients as part of the group.
- Tracey, Senior Partner
I discovered your newsletter a couple of months ago and appreciate the
great resource you have put in place. While I am an architect who
specializes in healthcare design, I am also someone who has experience
as both a patient and family member dealing with extreme and prolonged
illness. I liked your reader’s question about health report cards because I
feel that primary care doctors don’t do a good enough job of reviewing
health statistics and certainly of providing a “take away” for patients. Online
access to charts or health information is perhaps a helpful and inevitable
trend. However, since we are all barraged with information on a daily basis,
this information only becomes useful if it is part of a health plan that you and
your doctor monitor together.
The implications I see for design are twofold:
1. The design of the exam room needs to change. While most do include a
charting area, it is usually quite small and does not enable the patient and
doctor to sit side by side to review either on-screen or printed information.
Many patients do not even use an exam table for most doctor visits, so it
might even be beneficial to have consult rooms vs. exam rooms. The
consult room could have some of the same elements as a typical exam
room like Blood pressure cuff, oto/opthamoscope, hand washing sink and
supply/work counter. However, instead of an exam table, the room might
feature a table and chairs- allowing the doctor to do a routine check of vitals,
then spend the majority of the time reviewing the results of the exam within
the context of the patient’s health history and health trends. Especially for
those with chronic conditions like high blood pressure or diabetes who visit
the doctor on a monthly basis, this type of room would be far more
comfortable and conducive to their needs. It would enable the patient,
physician and any accompanying family member to share the events of the
visit within the context of a health profile. A table would also allow both
doctor and patient to bring along their own supplemental materials to share
or record the events of the visit.
2. If a dialogue is encouraged, physician assistants need to have computer
workstations where they can do a daily monitoring of patient results and
respond to any emails or requests for information from patients. It’s a much
more hands-on and higher level of care than most doctors offices are used
to delivering, but I see this as a trend that would also affect the physical
space of an office in order to provide a private and secure location to view
and respond to patient information.
Thank you for inviting readers to express their views. I look forward to
viewing the feedback from this letter.
-Angela M., Architect
Thirty years as a corporate designer, first universal design project 18 years
ago. Experience with family, friends and personally have enlightened me to
view our built environments from the eyes of a person with an ability
challenge. Most professional designs are based on legal standards but still
do not meet the basic needs of the person who will use them. For example:
A new high rise of luxury senior living housing built with "curbed" showers.
Curbless showers are NOT just for wheelchairs - they prevent falls - for
people with sight issues, MS [Multiple Sclerosis], Parkinson's, weakness and
many other issues. This design oversight can CAUSE an ability-changing
(life-changing) needless accident.
-Ann-Marie, Designer/Patient/Advocate
Patients with sickle cell disease face the challenge of coping with frequent
intermittent episodes of acute pain because of their condition. Pain is real to
this population of individuals; therefore pain management is significant. No
one should have to use the emergency department, sitting around for hours
waiting to receive pain management….it is not practical, cost effective, or
conducive to patient-centered care, which quality is the focal point.
Unfortunately, this happens to be the reality for many sickle cell patients
around the country…having no access to 24-hour urgent care clinics for
pain management. A sickle cell crisis can happen anytime, but what are
their options for treatment if their crisis occurs after office hours? In my role
as a RN, I have provided direct-patient care to many individuals with this
inherited blood disorder and pain management is the most significant issue
once the patient is in crisis...
Pain management should always be significant to patient care regardless of
diagnosis for comfort, dignity, and respect. It simply makes sense to
advocate for 24-hour urgent care clinics. Patients who are susceptible to
having severe pain crises should be able to receive pain management in a
timing manner rather than waiting in the emergency department.
-Melinda, Nurse
Designing the places we live begins with the psychological experience &
Form+Function will follow. Whether it's reducing the anxiety of a patient or
helping a couple feel at home in their living room, all spaces affect our mind
and emotions. When design values the psychological aspects in addition to
the physical, it creates a ripple effect. More fulfilled clients, staff, or patients
leads to improved quality of life, growth, and productivity.
-Jefferey, Architect
From 2004-2006, I was a 24/7 caregiver for my daughter's cancer treatment,
and I now sit on a family advisory board to her former children's hospital
oncology division. One of the things I learned was the disparity between
higher childhood cancer survival rates and lower adult survival rates for
similar cancers (leukemias/lymphomas). Of course there are many factors
involved, but I cannot help but wonder whether the physical environment of
oncology facilities plays a role. The life-affirming decor, playrooms, family-
friendly design flow, and even bicycles allowed on the treatment floor make
most pediatric cancer facilities in the US much more "healing" environments
than adult facilities. They understand a child's work is to play, regardless of
being attached to an IV pole. Couldn't a similar emphasis on play be
incorporated into adult facilities?
-Erin, Caregiver to cancer patient
The design of patient rooms is becoming more challenging every day.
This concerns both ambulatory care, patient accommodations, as well as
for LTHC [Long-term health care] facilities. For whatever time the patient
has to spend in a patient room, the experience has to be satisfying from the
point of view of ambiance, privacy and functionality for both the patient as
well as the nursing staff.
-Tariq, Doctor/Healthcare Consultant
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