Healthcare Design - January 2015 - 20

MONITOR
Tech support
Leaders of Morristown Medical Center
recognized that the role technology plays
in healthcare is growing and that the
hospital could serve as a venue where
patients and staff learn about new health
tools.
And so, last fall, a retail space was
opened off the hospital's main lobby. Named HealtheConnect, it's
where patients and staff can go to learn about the latest health apps,
get help downloading programs to their smartphone or tablet, or buy
the latest hardware, such as wearable fitness trackers and digital
scales.
Staffed by an IT professional with clinical skills, the store is
designed as a destination for patients and family members to visit
before they leave the facility. "We think it's the right place to have it,
because when people are in the hospital they're highly motivated
to think about their own health," says Dr. David Shulkin, president of Morristown Medical Center, part of Atlantic Health System
(Morristown, N.J.).
Modeled after Apple's Genius Bar, the 300-square-foot area,
which once housed the hospital cashier's office, offers an efficient
space plan and layout for monitors, tablets, and other devices, as
well as multiple seating options and a small retail space at the back.

Can Light
Affect Your Health?

Sara Gally, interior designer at Francis Cauffman
(Philadelphia), says designers kept the materials palette
simple and clean to reflect the
technology focus, including
backpainted glass, 8-by-2foot acoustical ceiling panels,
and luxury vinyl tile flooring.
Walnut-colored corner storage
units add texture to the preMorristown Medical Center opened
dominantly white setting.
HealtheConnect as a resource for patients
and staff to get help with health-related
So far, the most frequent
technology, apps, and fitness devices.
requests are for help in using
technology that visitors already
own and learning a new app. Staff members are also stopping by on
their lunch breaks to take advantage of the services.
"It helps merge healthcare and technology in an inviting way," says
Robert Peake, director of facilities and construction for Atlantic Health
System. "[We're] trying to take the frustration out of it and make it accessible to many people."
Peake says Atlantic Health is monitoring the concept before deciding to roll it out to other locations. "There's a need, especially among
older patients who are coming in," he says. "The younger generation
is growing up with this, but the older generation is playing catch-up
and we want to be there to help them with that."-AD HCD

Discover the relevance of light to human health
and why it matters for healthcare facilities.

www.schulershook.com/resources/light-human-health/

Chicago Minneapolis Dallas

HCDmagazine.com 02.15

The Healthcare Design Academy is a series of regional events
that brings together architects, designers, and facility administrators for one-and-a-half days of case study presentations, networking, interactive educational sessions, and panel
debates.
Healthcare Design is expanding its offerings in 2015 with five
Academy events:
* Feb. 26-27, Bethesda, Md.
* April 27-28, Houston (co-located with Medical World
Americas)
* July 23-24, Minneapolis
* August 5-6, St. Louis
* December 3-4, Atlanta.
In addition, sister brand Environments for Aging will hold
its first Academy event Sept. 17-18 in Naples, Fla. For more
information, visit HCDmagazine.com/hcd-academy or
EFAmagazine.com/efa-academy.

RiCHaRd TiTus

Healthcare Design Academy expands in 2015

http://www.schulershook.com/resources/light-human-health/ http://www.HCDmagazine.com/hcd-academy http://www.EFAmagazine.com/efa-academy http://www.HCDmagazine.com

Healthcare Design - January 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - January 2015