Technology Toolbox

Introduction

The Center is happy to announce the launch of the new topic toolbox: Technology. Each toolbox toolbox contains a library of newly-created and Center staff-curated content - research findings, expert insights, strategies, tools, and other useful resources. 

With state-of-the-art capabilities such as electronic health record systems, robotic surgeries, remote video connections, and medication safety systems, organizations can increase diagnostic and treatment efforts and enhance patient outcomes in exciting ways. These advancements can support cost-effective and efficient patient-centered care, all of which should be thoughtfully integrated into layout and design details. 
 

The Technology Toolbox Contains:

An Issue Brief and Executive Summary

“Medical Technology: A Built Environment Overview”, discusses why a systems approach is needed to successfully integrate technology into the built environment, the implications of the socio-technical system framework on planning and design around medical technology, and the impact of current and future technology on the continuum of care.
 

Four Interviews

• “Technology Can Enhance the Environment and the Way You Do Your Work”, an interview with Von Lambert, CPHIMS, CHFM, CBET, describes the ways technology, design, and healthcare operations should work together, how to design for future technologies, and discusses the importance of creating interdisciplinary teams when integrating technology into healthcare spaces.
• “How the Latest Advances in Technology Impact Hospital Design and Healthcare Delivery”, an interview with Bill Crounse, MD, reviews why it is difficult for physicians to properly use technology to deliver care, how healthcare organizations that act as both insurer and provider are leveraging technology to save resources, and technological tools with tremendous - and growing - impact on healthcare.
• “The Role of Technology in the Future of Healthcare”, an interview with Debbie Gregory, RN, BSN, discusses the importance of planning for technology early in the design phase, why IT and bio-med teams need to be involved in design plans right from the beginning of the project, and what can happen when a whole host of technology is deployed simultaneously.
• “Good Technology Combines People, Place, and Price”, an interview with Gloria Cascarino, descrbies the importance of cultural fit in choosing technology, the ways equipment and operational conversations go hand-in-hand, and how to plan for today while looking toward the future.

One Video Interview

“Using Solar/Thermal Storage”, an interview with Barry Rabner, where he discusses the benefits of a co-generation power plant built on his healthcare campus. 

Two Project Brief

• “Technology Delivers Improved Patient Care at WellStar Paulding Hospital”, reviews the contribution technologies made to improve patient outcomes, the use of multiple technologies to improve patient care, and the strategies used by the design team to avoid creating a solitary feeling for the nurses working in a decentralized configuration.
• “Collaboration Plays a Key Role in Creating a New Hybrid Operating Room”, outlines Geisinger Health System’s efforts to create a new Hybrid Operating Room that flexes to accommodate different surgical setups and storage needs, how vendors working closely together around common goals can improve efficiency and maximize results, and the need to maintain flexibility in the built environment to allow designs to meet changing circumstances and incorporate improved technologies.

Design Strategies 

• Top design strategies for implementing technology into healthcare design.
   

Tool

• The “Medical Technology Evaluation Checklist” tool assists in planning around medical technology in healthcare facilities, including acute care, clinic, rehabilitation, and long-term care environments.
   

Three Blogs

• “Technology Brings Comforts of Home to Pediatric Patients”, being a technologically advanced facility doesn’t mean you  have to take a high-tech approach to your design elements.
• “Building State-of-the-Art Technology into Your Design Plans", if you’re like most healthcare organizations today, the newest electronic tools and offerings are probably taking enter stage in your modernization plans, healing to lead the way toward achieving better outcomes.  
• “Serving Up the Latest Technology with Patient Care”, many hospitals are incorporating IT improvements into their operations to create a virtual feast of high-quality offerings.

Seven Webinars

• “Applying Neuroscience to Healthcare Lighting Design: Opportunities and Cautions”
• “Life Indoors-The Design of the Built Environment’s Impact on Health and Wellbeing” 
• “Designing a New Ambulatory Care Model: A Case Study Look at Ambulatory Design Trends Featuring UW Health – Yahara Clinic”
• “The Evolution of Lighting”
• “Try it Before You Buy it: The Role of Simulation and Modeling in Evidence-Based Healthcare Design”
• “Taking the Pulse of Ambulatory Care Environments”
• “Examining the Effects of Positive Distractions in Pediatric Environments: A methodological Comparison of Two Studies”
• "Telemedicine: How Virtual Connectivity and Care Are Reshaping Architectural Programming"
• "Design for One is Design for All: The Past, Present and Future of Universal Design for Aging"
• "Telemedicine: Where We Are and Why the Built Environment Matters" 

Lessons Learned

• Ten key lessons learned from expert interviews and case studies.

Related Resources

• List of other organizations that are supporting the creation and implementation of technology into healthcare design.

Click here to view Technology Toolbox resources available only to Affiliate+ members*

* Want to learn how to become an Affiliate+ member?  

Contact Lynn Kenney, lkenney@healthdesign.org