So back to the conundrum of placing value on design, not just functionality, which I think is a pitfall into which Evidence-Based Design devotees often stumble. If we weave in culture and not just evidence, a philosophy of patient-centered care can be mapped to a process of approaching design. This has the potential to lead us to a design solution that has measurable positive effect on those who use the space as well as the organization’s bottom line.
These are my thoughts on how to begin relating methods of healthcare delivery to a design approach for new construction and renovation projects, determine ways to streamline costs and maximize efficiency through patient flow, staffing and treatment models reflected and reinforced by the built environment. Oh yeah, and be something worth calling architecture too.
- Establish a connection between the culture of a healthcare organization and its ability to formulate and communicate delivery of care goals with successful built projects
- Illustrate the role that design professionals can play in structuring a design process that facilitates translation of delivery of care goals to the built environment
- Empower the design process to protect design philosophies and elements that will successfully support the organization’s delivery of care goals.
