Medical Construction & Design

NOV-DEC 2015

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

Issue link: https://mcdmag.epubxp.com/i/601977

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 46 of 70

FACILITIES OF TOMORROW F A C I L I T I E S O F T O M O R ISSUE FOCUS It's no secret that the health- care industry has seen major shifts over the last few years. Government regulations, tech- nological advancements and new models for care have all played a role in transforming approaches and expectations when it comes to healthcare in the U.S. This new mindset is causing ripple ef ects across the entire healthcare ecosys- tem with healthcare facilities often at the frontlines, facing the challenge of incorporating these upgrades and updates before anyone else. By avoiding a one-size-fi ts- all approach, those leading the pack understand where to invest in order to achieve maxi- mum impact and are helping to dictate the key dif erentiators and features that will defi ne facilities of the future. Seeing the changing indus- try tides as an opportunity, healthcare facilities of the fu- ture will prioritize operational improvements, sustainable de- sign methods, new methods for delivering care at a community level and research initiatives. Patient-focused design There is a heightened im- portance placed on the patient-provider relationship. However, it's more than just measuring patient satisfac- tion during a hospital visit. Healthcare leaders are focused on the science behind these in- teractions and future-focused facilities are using this data to inform everything from space layout to staf ng needs and wait times — all with the goal of improving functionality and increasing ef ciency without losing focus on patient care. William P. Clements Jr. University Hospital at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas is putting this idea into practice in a unique way. Working closely alongside hospital staf , nurses and doc- tors, the design team set out to answer a simple question: "What's best for the patient?" The answer was found in an unconventional W-shaped design. This key architectural feature improves navigation, gives clinicians closer interac- tions with patients, promotes collaboration by co-locating medical specialties and mini- mizes patient exposure to noise and other infections. In the future, healthcare facilities will continue to use data to improve functionality across all parts of the business, from organizational practices to physical design. Redefi ning sustainability The introduction of LEED for Healthcare v4 aims to up the stakes, shining a new light on the signifi cance LEED will play in facilities of the future. Noted as the most signifi cant comprehensive update since LEED's inception, the new guidelines place a high value on more specifi c energy- and water-ef ciency prerequisites. It also includes unprecedented building reporting and disclo- sure requirements. Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie, New York has tackled the challenge head on. It's the fi rst registered healthcare project in the state of New York under the new LEED guidelines and only the second in the U.S. Sustainable elements include solar shading that defl ects direct sunlight and allows light to penetrate for decreased heat gain and increased interior natural daylight and the reduction of building energy by using mo- tion and light sensors. In addition, low-fl ow fau- cets and fi xtures with auto-of controls save an estimated TRENDS, NEW CARE MODELS, RESEARCH SET PACE FOR FACILITIES OF TOMORROW BY DON DEBORD Taking Shape The Presence Center for Advanced Care's convenient location makes it easily accessible for Chicago, Illinois residents. Left: Dispersed workstations place nurses in closer proximity to patients and provide areas for collaboration. 80% By 2020, 80 percent of healthcare data will pass through the cloud. Presence: RTKL/David Whitcomb; workstations: Charles Davis Smith 53 million The number of electronic health records is expected to rise to 53 million by 2016. 42 Medical Construction & Design | NOV EMBER / DECEMBER 2015 | MCDM AG.COM

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of Medical Construction & Design - NOV-DEC 2015