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Planning a Medical Procedure Unit: Breaking Down Department Boundaries
 Historically, same-day medical procedures at Midwest Medical Center have been provided by a variety of different departments and scattered throughout the hospital with redundant patient reception/waiting, preparation, treatment, and recovery spaces. As demand for same-day medical procedures continued to grow, the hospital leadership was concerned that outpatient satisfaction was being compromised while operational costs were increasing dramatically. Department staff were inpatient-focused and reluctant to alter pre-established protocols and processes. They were also reluctant to consider any changes to their existing "turf."
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| In the News |
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Hospital Leaders Predict Growth in Telemedicine
According to Futurescan 2008: Healthcare Trends and Implications 2008-2013, telemedicine (delivery of healthcare through the Internet) will be increasingly used to manage chronic and acute care patient conditions through continuous monitoring, real-time consultation, and delivery of pharmacologically-based treatments. The annual report from the Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development is written by an expert panel supported by data from a survey of over 1,400 healthcare leaders across the country. Although the report highlights eight important trends, the section on technology titled "New Technologies Demand New Business Models" should be of particular interest to healthcare facility planners.
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| Trendline |
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Customer Service Centers Are Gaining Momentum in the Healthcare Industry
In the traditional healthcare facility, multiple departments and staff are involved in customer intake and "processing" activities such as reception, admitting and registration, coordination of multiple appointments, cashiering, insurance verification, and physician referrals. This typically results in fragmented customer service and complicated wayfinding. Although many of these departments are located on the first floor of the facility, only a few staff in each department actually have face-to-face interaction with visitors, patients, and their families. The question is: How can a healthcare organization better utilize both its staff and space to enhance operational efficiency and improve customer service?
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| Technology |
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CT Scanner in 54 Square Feet? For Specialty Physicians it is Possible
 Imagine a computed tomography (CT) scanner that can be installed in a room as small as six by nine feet, weighs 450 pounds, and plugs into a standard electrical outlet. And it creates high-resolution images while emitting very little radiation and can be installed in a single day. Well, for eye, ear, nose, and throat physicians it is possible to provide point-of-care CT imaging in a clinic or an operating room.
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SpaceMedGuide
A Space Planning Guide For Healthcare Facilities
SECOND EDITION
Current Trends.
State-of-art planning methodologies.
Industry benchmarks and rules-of-thumb.
Quick. Efficient. Effective.
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Rule-of-Thumb |
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Surgery Suite Capacity and Preliminary Space Need |
Surgery suite utilization depends on many factors including the mix of inpatients and outpatients, the types of surgical cases performed, and the overall competitive environment (e.g., need for optimal hours and flexible schedules to attract surgeons). However, there is still wide variation in the annual number of cases per operating room, number of prep/recovery bays, and overall square feet to support a given number of operating rooms.
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From the Editor |
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As shown in the articles in this issue, the traditional facility planning approach where the facility programmer or architect solicits input from individual department managers and their staff may result in the replication of existing, inefficient organization structures and operational systems at a time when there is a tremendous opportunity to use facility reconfiguration as the impetus for operational change. To effect change, you need experienced leadership with a vision that promotes operational processes focused around the patient, exploits new technologies, and provides efficient use of staff, equipment, and space. Please send me your comments or ideas for future issues.
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