Pioneering the Use of Tracker Data to Evaluate Lean-Led Hospital Design.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine how we can effectively and affordably evaluate the impact of design concepts such as Lean-Led Hospital Design (LLHD) on the allocation of nurses' time spent at different locations. Particularly in patient rooms, as this can be seen as value-adding time. BACKGROUND: LLHD aims to create a hospital environment that supports value creation for patients and reduces waste. However, only a few studies measure its' effects. One of the reasons for this absence is the lack of an adequate and affordable way to evaluate. METHOD: Nurses' time spent in patient rooms was used as a proxy for value-adding time. Through studying a pioneering case of LLHD, and drawing on a pre-/postoccupancy evaluation approach, this study used an innovative methodology utilizing mobile tracking devices to adequately provide reliable data about the time nurses spend at specific locations. RESULTS: Our analysis reveals that the answer to the question concerning the impact of LLHD, as advocated by its proponents, on nurses' allocation of time for value-adding activities versus waste time remains inconclusive. Our findings indicate no discernible difference in the amount of value-adding time nurses spent in the old facility compared to the new one. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that mobile tracking devices offer an affordable, efficient means of collecting data that produces objective measurements. Nevertheless, the interpretation of this time-based data necessitates the inclusion of supplementary qualitative information.

Improving the Mental Health of Surgical Teams Through Operating Room Design.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to develop and propose an evaluation method for analyzing the design of operating rooms (ORs) from the perspective of surgical teams' reported experiences and stress levels. BACKGROUND: Stress and burnout of surgical team members can lead to diminished performance and medical errors, which endangers the safety of both the patients and team members. The design and layout of the OR play a critical role in managing such stress. METHODS: To understand surgical teams' spatial needs related to their experiences and stress, we administered a survey and in-depth focus group discussions to three surgical teams from the same organization. The identified spatial needs were translated into functional scenarios and spatial metrics, essentially viewing the OR through the perspective of users. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed four integral sections-patient flow, room organization, access to facilities/medical equipment/support staff/team members, and staff well-being-identified as critical design factors associated with the experiences and stress levels of the surgical teams in the ORs. CONCLUSIONS: We expect this method to serve as a tool for evaluating the effect of the design of OR layouts on stress, thereby supporting the well-being and resiliency of surgical teams.

The Role of the Built Environment as a Therapeutic Intervention in Mental Health Facilities: A Systematic Literature Review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic literature review synthesizes and assesses empirical research concerning the use of the built environment as a therapeutic intervention in adult mental health inpatient facilities. The review explores the impact of facility design on patient outcomes. BACKGROUND: There is a growing recognition that the built environment in mental health facilities must strike a balance between ensuring safety and providing a therapeutic atmosphere. A review addressing how facility design contributes to this therapeutic environment is warranted. METHODS: Database searches were conducted in CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception up to March 10, 2022. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN50) critical appraisal checklists were used to assess the quality of included studies. RESULTS: Of the 44 peer-reviewed studies identified from nine countries, several factors emerged as vital for the therapeutic environment in mental health inpatient facilities. These included personal spaces prioritizing privacy and control of the environment, daylight-optimized spaces, versatile communal areas promoting activities and interaction, designated areas for visits and spiritual/contemplative reflection, homelike environments, the inclusion of artwork in units, open nursing stations, and dedicated female-only areas. Yet, there is a need for research yielding stronger evidence-based designs harmonizing with therapeutic needs. CONCLUSION: This review offers initial guidance on designing mental health facilities that foster a therapeutic environment, while highlighting that the influence of facility design on mental health inpatients is considerably under-researched.

Reimagine the ICU: Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on How Environments (Can) Promote Patient Well-Being.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims (1) to understand the needs and challenges of the current intensive care unit (ICU) environments in supporting patient well-being from the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and (2) to explore the new potential of ICU environments enabled by technology. BACKGROUND: Evidence-based design has yielded how the design of environments can advocate for patient well-being, and digital technology offers new possibilities for indoor environments. However, the role of technology in facilitating ICU patient well-being has been unexplored. METHOD: This study was conducted in two phases. First, a mixed-method study was conducted with ICU HCPs from four Dutch hospitals. The study investigated the current environmental support for care activities, as well as the factors that positively and negatively contribute to patient experience. Next, a co-creation session was held involving HCPs and health technology experts to explore opportunities for technology to support ICU patient well-being. RESULTS: The mixed-method study revealed nine negative and eight positive patient experience factors. HCPs perceived patient emotional care as most challenging due to the ICU workload and a lack of environmental support in fulfilling patient emotional needs. The co-creation session yielded nine technology-enabled solutions to address identified challenges. Finally, drawing from insights from both studies, four strategies were introduced that guide toward creating technology to provide holistic and personalized care for patients. CONCLUSION: Patient experience factors are intertwined, necessitating a multifactorial approach to support patient well-being. Viewing the ICU environment as a holistic unit, our findings provide guidance on creating healing environments using technology.

Rethinking the Healthcare Facilities: The Role of the Buffer Space.

OBJECTIVES: A working group conducted a survey on the use of the principle of buffer space (BS), which in case of emergencies, could benefit healthcare settings. The aim of the preliminary investigation is to define new research lines in hospitals' functional design. BACKGROUND: The global experience of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges faced by hospitals when responding promptly to emergencies, including spatial reorganization and suspension of ordinary medical activities for ensuring adequate management of the emergency surge of patients. METHODS: The group designed questionnaires to be administered to healthcare staff and healthcare designers aimed at understanding varied conceptions and features of BSs. Content across the two surveys overlapped significantly, allowing for direct comparisons of responses, while also including tailored questions in relation to the respective experience and skills of the two groups of respondents. RESULTS: 102 healthcare professionals and 56 designers took part to the survey. Analysis of the responses permitted for initial recommendations regarding BS typology including (a) proximity to the emergency department (ED), intensive care units (ICUs), and inpatient wards (IWs); (b) location within hospitals but separate from other medical areas; (c) need for independent access; (d) organizational and spatial features similar to ED, ICUs, and IWs; (e) existing as a fully flexible operational space; and (f) BS bed capacity to be approximately 12% of ED beds. CONCLUSIONS: Although the analysis is related to the Italian context, the expansion of this preliminary research to alternate healthcare facilities and geographic areas is necessary for reaching a wide consensus by different professionals on this field. It serves as a starting point for future investigations regarding the implementation of BS in hospital settings.

The Influence of Exposure to Nature on Inpatient Hospital Stays: A Scoping Review.

AIM: To summarize the existing literature surrounding the influence of natural elements on course in hospital and to introduce clinicians to the concept of biophilic design and the potential for incorporation of nature into the hospital environment as a component of a therapeutic hospitalization. BACKGROUND: For decades, architects and designers have espoused the benefits of incorporating natural elements into the healthcare environment for therapeutic purposes. The benefits of this "biophilic" design philosophy has been investigated predominantly in long-term care or rehabilitation settings; however, some of the most appealing opportunities lie in the acute care setting. METHODS: This scoping review surveyed the literature surrounding the influence of exposure to nature on course in acute hospitalizations. After screening 12,979 citations, 41 articles were included. Exposures were divided into seven categories, the most common of which were the presence of a window/natural light, a natural scene through a window, and nature soundscapes. These articles were reviewed in a narrative fashion and thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Studies were extremely heterogeneous in their design, research questions, and reported outcomes. Types of exposure to nature studied were exposure to a real natural scene through a window, presence of a window/nature light, nature in the healthcare environment, art depicting nature, direct contact with nature, nature soundscapes, and nature experienced through virtual reality (VR). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to nature during an acute hospital admission appears to have a real but small therapeutic effect, predominantly on psychological metrics like anxiety/depression, pain, and patient satisfaction. Greater beneficial effects are seen with greater durations of exposure to nature and greater degrees of immersion into nature (e.g., creating multisensory experiences using emerging technology like VR).

Reimagining Construction and Renovation of Health Care Facilities During Emergence from a Pandemic.

The built environment has been integral to response to the global pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). In particular, engineering controls to mitigate risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and other newly emergent respiratory pathogens in the future will be important. Anticipating emergence from this pandemic, or at least adaptation given increasing administration of effective vaccines, and the safety of patients, personnel, and others in health care facilities remain the core goals. This article summarizes known risks and highlights prevention strategies for daily care as well as response to emergent infectious diseases and this parapandemic phase.

Constructing high-quality rest facilities to maximise performance and ensure patient safety.

INTRODUCTION: Junior doctors are working in an increasingly overstretched National Health Service. In 2018, Kettering General Hospital (KGH) was awarded £60 800 of government funds to create high-quality rest facilities and improve junior doctor well-being. METHODS: An audit and survey in KGH identified the structural and functional improvements needed. From November 2019 to June 2020, £47 841.24 was spent on creating new rest facilities. On completion, a postaction review assessed how the changes impacted morale, well-being and quality of patient care. RESULTS: The majority of doctors were happy with the new rest areas (60%), a majority felt that they would use the on-call room area (63%) and the renovation improved morale and well-being. There was an increased ability to take breaks. However, the majority of doctors are not exception-reporting missing breaks: 79% (2019), 74% (2020). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: This report recommends the maintenance of increased staffing levels and rest facilities during the recovery phase of COVID-19. The remaining £12 958.76 should be directed at sustaining the quality of KGH rest facilities. Lastly, the rate of exception-reporting must be increased through improving awareness, exploring alternative methods and supporting the action when necessary. The continual investment into rest facilities ensures workforce well-being and translates into patient safety.

Construction of a non-contact community treatment centre for asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The explosive outbreak of COVID-19 led to a shortage of medical resources, including isolation rooms in hospitals, healthcare workers (HCWs) and personal protective equipment. Here, we constructed a new model, non-contact community treatment centres to monitor and quarantine asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic COVID-19 patients who recorded their own vital signs using a smartphone application. This new model in Korea is useful to overcome shortages of medical resources and to minimise the risk of infection transmission to HCWs.

Field Hospital Boston Hope: Defining Culture During Uncertainty.

As hospitals across the world realized their surge capacity would not be enough to care for patients with coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection, an urgent need to open field hospitals prevailed. In this article the authors describe the implementation process of opening a Boston field hospital including the development of a culture unique to this crisis and the local community needs. Through first-person accounts, readers will learn (1) about Boston Hope, (2) how leaders managed and collaborated, (3) how the close proximity of the care environment impacted decision-making and management style, and (4) the characteristics of leaders under pressure as observed by the team.

Loopholes in Current Infection Control and Prevention Practices Against COVID-19 in Radiology Department and Improvement Suggestions.

OBJECTIVES: To improve the infection control and prevention practices against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in radiology department through loophole identification and providing rectifying measurements. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of 2 cases of health-care-associated COVID-19 transmission in 2 radiology departments and comparing the infection control and prevention practices against COVID-19 with the practices of our department, where no COVID-19 transmission has occurred. RESULTS: Several loopholes have been identified in the infection control and prevention practices against COVID-19 of the 2 radiology departments. Loopholes were in large part due to our limited understanding of the highly contagious coronavirus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) which is characterized by features not observed in other SARS viruses. We recommend to set up an isolation zone for handling patients who do not meet the diagnostic criteria of COVID-19 but are not completely cleared of the possibility of infection. CONCLUSIONS: Loopholes in the infection control and prevention practices against COVID-19 of the 2 radiology departments are due to poor understanding of the emerging disease which can be fixed by establishing an isolation zone for patients not completely cleared of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The role of dedicated biocontainment patient care units in preparing for COVID-19 and other infectious disease outbreaks.

In response to the Ebola outbreak of 2014-2016, the US Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) established 10 regional treatment centers, called biocontainment units (BCUs), to prepare and provide care for patients infected with high-consequence pathogens. Many of these BCUs were among the first units to activate for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patient care. The activities of the Johns Hopkins BCU helped prepare the Johns Hopkins Health System for COVID-19 in the 3 domains of containment care: (1) preparedness planning, education and training, (2) patient care and unit operations, and (3) research and innovation. Here, we describe the role of the JH BCU in the Hopkins COVID-19 response to illustrate the value of BCUs in the current pandemic and their potential role in preparing healthcare facilities and health systems for future infectious disease threats.

How to Design Hospital Settings for Visually Impaired Patients.

It is essential for healthcare institutions to accommodate the needs of the growing population of visually impaired patients. Hospital leaders must implement strategies to guarantee these patients' autonomy. We reviewed the literature and identified measures hospitals have implemented to accommodate visually impaired patients. To bridge gaps in the literature, we interviewed healthcare managers from five different hospitals in the United States. These interviews reveal that, while different levels of accommodations are already offered by those institutions, accommodations are generally extremely basic, and leave enormous room for improvement to ensure that the visually impaired receive proper care and dignified treatment.

A model for rapid emergency department expansion for the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has caused global dramatic change in medical practices including the introduction of temporary screening and assessment areas outside the footprint of the main hospital structures. Following the initial surge of patients with novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in the United States, our medical center rapidly designed and constructed an alternative assessment and treatment site in a converted parking garage deck for emergency department patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV. During the first month after opening, 651 patients were treated in this alternative assessment area including 54 patients who tested positive for 2019-nCoV. This accounted for 55% of the 98 patients with confirmed novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) who were treated in our ED. This report provides a blueprint for the necessary steps, materials, labor needs and barriers, both anticipated and unanticipated, to rapidly construct an alternative ED treatment site during a pandemic.

Emergency management in fever clinic during the outbreak of COVID-19: an experience from Zhuhai.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global health threat. A hospital in Zhuhai adopted several measures in Fever Clinic Management (FCM) to respond to the outbreak of COVID-19. FCM has been proved to be effective in preventing nosocomial cross infection. Faced with the emergency, the hospital undertook creative operational steps in relation to the control and spread of COVID-19, with special focuses on physical and administrative layout of buildings, staff training and preventative procedures. The first operational step was to set up triaging stations at all entrances and then complete a standard and qualified fever clinic, which was isolated from the other buildings within our hospital complex. Secondly, the hospital established its human resource reservation for emergency response and the allocation of human resources to ensure strict and standardised training methods through the hospital for all medical staff and ancillary employees. Thirdly, the hospital divided the fever clinic into partitioned areas and adapted a three-level triaging system. The experiences shared in this paper would be of practical help for the facilities that are encountering or will encounter the challenges of COVID-19, i.e. to prevent nosocomial cross infection among patients and physicians.

Design and Implementation of a Regional Inpatient Psychiatry Unit for Patients who are Positive for Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2.

BACKGROUND: Patients with psychiatric illnesses are particularly vulnerable to highly contagious, droplet-spread organisms such as SARS-CoV-2. Patients with mental illnesses may not be able to consistently follow up behavioral prescriptions to avoid contagion, and they are frequently found in settings with close contact and inadequate infection control, such as group homes, homeless shelters, residential rehabilitation centers, and correctional facilities. Furthermore, inpatient psychiatry settings are generally designed as communal spaces, with heavy emphasis on group and milieu therapies. As such, inpatient psychiatry services are vulnerable to rampant spread of contagion. OBJECTIVE: With this in mind, the authors outline the decision process and ultimate design and implementation of a regional inpatient psychiatry unit for patients infected with asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 and share key points for consideration in implementing future units elsewhere. CONCLUSION: A major takeaway point of the analysis is the particular expertise of trained experts in psychosomatic medicine for treating patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.