Healthcare Design - August 2015 - 81

WHAT DOES THE "HUMAN FACTOR"
REALLY MEAN IN HEALTHCARE DESIGN?

The investments made in healthcare today are substantial, and pressure
is mounting to discover new ways to yield more value from the equation.
One design principle that is key in yielding this value is designing for the human factor. But when we talk of the human
factor in healthcare, we often refer to organizational management, more effective team-based care and patient safety.
While all of these areas are valid, looking only at individual parts
independently, rather than looking at the picture holistically can
jeopardize the full impact that the environment can have in positive healthcare outcomes. Enhancing the vital connections between
patients, partners and providers is what is key to creating effective
healthcare environments.
Steelcase Health has broken this design consideration
into three simple steps:
HUMANIZE the experience to make it more personal and less
foreboding, reducing stress to promote more positive, optimistic
emotions.

Above is an example of an exam room application that
incorporates these new insights and opportunities.

EMPOWER people with information, understanding
and advice to make good choices.

To note:

CONNECT stakeholders to support the development
of relationships and knowledge that lead to better
outcomes.

1 Not every appointment requires an exam table. A recliner
replaces the exam table, providing "same-level" seating,
placing patients in a more empowered posture and encouraging them to participate as co-directors of their health.

As one example, we delved into current exam
room conﬁgurations and found many ways that their limiting
factors can be improved to better consider the human factor
and in turn the changing healthcare landscape. Specifically,
most exam rooms are intimidating environments. They lack
spaces for patients to comfortably undress or place their
belongings, which can immediately create uneasiness and
lead to a perceived lack of quality in care. Exam tables put
patients at a different level than the physician, which makes
sharing information awkward and impersonal.
Most exam rooms are also designed for only the patient and
physician- there is little room for family or a trusted support
person. As care is beginning to take a more integrated and
holistic approach, this is something that needs to be considered now and not later. Sightlines to information on a computer or handheld device are limited to only the physician, which
compromises the powerful potential of technology as a tool
for teaching and learning. And lastly, in many exam rooms
today, fixed, bulky furniture makes movement difficult, limits
in-the-moment reconfiguration and hinders active learning
modes. Making technology and tools mobile can support a
more dynamic ﬂow.

2 Learning and shared understanding are supported with
information displayed on a large monitor, providing equal
visibility to educational information or data from a clinician's
device, such as lab or x-ray results.
3 Space is allocated for family members, making them equals
in the conversation. Seating offers power for technology
devices and encourages active learning for all participants.
4 A mobile work-surface with drawer storage and magnetic
accessories keeps exam tools and technology close at
hand for physicians. It has a small footprint that moves with
the physician - making it easy to adapt the space for the
individual needs of each patient.
5 Interactions in this room are comfortable and ﬂuid -
and a lot gets done.
There is a wealth of knowledge about human behavior at the
organizational and political level, but it is now time to couple that with
what we know in healthcare and effectively apply it to the design of
our healthcare environments. It goes beyond safety; there is also
a huge cost attached to ignoring the human factor in design. In the
fast changing world of healthcare, asking "How might we?" is often
the starting point for innovation. It is time to consider "How might
we design with the human factor at the center?" The result will
undoubtedly be more engaging, connected care.
For more insights, applications and solutions, visit us online.

SteelcaseHealth.com

http://www.SteelcaseHealth.com http://www.SteelcaseHealth.com

Healthcare Design - August 2015

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