Team Alpha | Patient Room of the Future | Oct. 11, 2007 Applying General Design Solutions to Hughes Spalding: Wayfinding + Infection Control

The Principle: Wayfinding Design the hospital environment and wayfinding processes in order to reduce stress and anxiety for patients, visitors, and employees

Principle Problem Key Points in the Evidence Patient anxiety increases because lack of understanding and control over their environment. As floor plan complexity increases, wayfinding performance decreases. The addition of signage results in 13% increased rate of travel and 62% decrease in backtracking. As tasks become more difficult, your STM performance deteriorates.

Principle Design the hospital environment and wayfinding processes in order to reduce stress and anxiety for patients, visitors, and employees Problem Key Points in the Evidence Ineffective wayfinding costs hospitals a significant amount of money. Annual cost of wayfinding is $448/bed/year 4,500 non-designated staff hours (2 FTEs)

Principle Design the hospital environment and wayfinding processes in order to reduce stress and anxiety for patients, visitors, and employees Problem Key Points in the Evidence Hospitals are not designed for the size or cognitive ability of children. Children orient themselves at a “start” position. Younger children have problems estimating direction and learning a specific route. Graphical signage produces the greatest rate of travel.

Proposed Wayfinding Solutions Step-by-Step Getting to the Hospital Marta: walking maps, shuttle service Car: large, uniform, graphical signage (for parking + hospital entrance) On foot: colored footprints that lead to entrance

Proposed Wayfinding Solutions Entering the Hospital 3D hospital mock- up with light-up directions and ability to print step-by-step customized maps

Proposed Wayfinding Solutions Throughout the Hospital Interior Layout and Design Use landmarks (ex: things that everyone can identify--large, physical structures) Colors/themes to help differentiate areas Ceiling/floor designs that lead you in the correct directions (subtly, but clearly)

Proposed Wayfinding Solutions Throughout the Hospital 5 components of signage : Graphical - for kids + no language barrier Textual - LED signs + clear and concise + multiple languages Uniform - Consistent layout + format Uses landmarks and colors Placement - for both adults and children

The Principle: Infection Control Implement solutions that result in very low infection rates

Principle Problem Key Points in the Evidence Implement solutions that result in very low infection rates Poor hand washing practices lead to higher nosocomial infections. Hand washing compliance rates are typically 15-35%. There are 2 million nosocomial infections per year in the US.

Principle Problem Key Points in the Evidence Implement solutions that result in very low infection rates Inconvenient sink locations and forgetfulness are barriers to proper hand washing behavior. Hand washing compliance rates are typically 15-35%. Alcohol-based hand-cleaners at bedside increase hand washing compliance

Proposed Infection Control Solutions “Clean Hands” RFID Tracking System RFID-based compliance monitoring Detects doctor’s entrance into room Alerts doctor if Patient Zone entered without hand washing Records when doctor washes hands

Proposed Infection Control Solutions “Color me Clean” Antibacterial Gel/Foam Hand cleaner that changes colors when used Similar to Coppertone Kids sunblock Provides visual evidence of sanitizer use

Summary of Proposed Solutions ‘Step-by-Step’ ‘Clean Hands’ RFID-tracking system ‘Color me Clean’ Antibacterial Gel/Foam

Any Questions?