Healthcare Design - October 2022 - 58

UFIRST+
SUBMITTED BY KENT STATE UNIVERSITY
WITH TRAUMA INJURIES the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., providing quality
and timely trauma care in life-threatening situations is key. In such cases, the severity
of patients' conditions requires immediate response from a team of clinicians in a wellequipped
physical environment, with the fi rst hour after injury critical in determining
survival. As such, the speed of care and immediate treatment are crucial. Additionally,
in mass casualty events or remote areas, the unavailability of space can be an added
challenge. UFirst+ proposes a mobile solution that brings care to injured patients in a
highly advanced environment where care can take place or be integrated into an existing
emergency department. The autonomous unit is independent from specifi c healthcare
systems and is owned by the community. It can go to the scene of an incident, take
care of injured patients on-site, transport them to an existing ED, and attach to existing
ED infrastructure for as long as needed. Patients can also be dropped off for the next
level of care, allowing the unit to restock and respond to another call. Its overall design is
based around being fl exible, inclusive, reloadable, systematic, portable, lean, and smart.
For example, a customizable trauma table houses outlets, medical gases, suctions, and
oxygen to make the most of the small space, while restocking is automated and infection
control is achieved through a self-cleaning decontamination system.
ROOTS
SUBMITTED BY HDR PRINCETON TEAM
THE ROOTS CONCEPT works to reimagine mental health care
for high school students at risk of experiencing depression
and anxiety caused by social media and amplifi ed by the
COVID-19 pandemic. To better understand the problem and
identify the proper solution, the team talked with students
about their approaches and options when experiencing those
challenges and came to realize their biggest struggle was
crossing the threshold of deciding to talk to someone about
their issues. Once that threshold is crossed, teens reported
seeking help from a school counselor or a mental health professional
within a healthcare facility-yet the approachability
of both settings was lacking. Roots proposes an approachable
experiential journey sited right on school premises to support
teens in seeking help and breaking stigma about mental
health. It uses a kit of parts that can be easily assembled on
campus, packaged within shipping containers. The solution
off ers a gradual progression through three distinct zones that
helps the teens transition into the program. For example,
Zone 1 allows the student to be alone and observe the facility,
while Zone 2 transitions them into a communal space that
supports activities like peer mentoring, sharing stories, and
meditation. Zone 3 can accommodate even more individuals
in a communal healing garden that off ers an end point to the
care journey. 
Jennifer Silvis is editor-in-chief of Healthcare Design. She can be
reached at JENNIFER.SILVIS@EMERALDX.COM.
58
OCTOBER 2022
HCDMAGAZINE.COM

http://www.HCDMAGAZINE.COM

Healthcare Design - October 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - October 2022