How a Pandemic Shaped Healthcare Architectural Design

“Space is power,” says Sharon Woodworth, sector leader at National Healthcare Practice at Harley Ellis Devereaux, who joins The Catalyst to discuss the changing face of healthcare architectural design. With so many industries using technology to create automated experiences for patients, the healthcare industry is wise to follow suit. Sharon explains why she would like outpatient care to more resemble the Apple Genius Bar, and hospitals to have a layout like the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. 

 

She and Dr. Lara discuss the pros and cons of what is an increasing level of standardization in healthcare settings. When the clinician knows exactly where everything is, it limits cognitive drain, yet at what point does standardized feel too sterile? Especially when studies show that inpatients, as a result of a nesting instinct, will begin to personalize their hospital room within an hour of checking in, and clinicians who personalize their office space are shown to be more productive and more receptive to their patients.

 

How do we design inpatient and outpatient buildings differently so that they promote physician wellness and help prevent burnout? It starts, Sharon says, with clinicians speaking up to higher admin and architects. This begins by realistically visualizing a typical day in the workplace. If architects choose to include fewer exam rooms in their plans, what does this mean for clinician burnout? And if and when another major global disaster happens, how do healthcare spaces accommodate a major influx of patients who will need rooms? 

 

In this episode, Sharon and Dr. Lara Salyer discuss the importance of creativity to overall health and their own experiences with personalized workspaces, the impact it had on both clinicians and patients of all ages. 

 

Quotes

• “If you were not, as a general public, aware of the impact of the environment on health, Covid taught you. Yes, it’s important to have space around you, to have fresh air, to be aware of what’s going on around you.” (6:46 | Sharon Woodworth) 

• “We can learn a lot from other industries. Healthcare lags as far as the use of technology and AI, whereas we’ve been self-checking our bags and our airline flights for years, and healthcare is so lagging behind. In other industries, there are kiosks, where you go and check in. Think of going to a restaurant and the people come and find you and get you seated.” (9:34 | Dr. Lara Salyer)

• “Space is power, and you have to fight for what you want. And what happens if you are in a position to be asked to design a space, don’t assume that you’re going to be given a space of respite. Don’t assume that to begin with. So, when you’re asked to join that process, start asking, ‘What are you doing for us?’ Not the patient–yes, we’re all into patient-centered care–but, I’m sorry, without the staff, there is no patient-centered care. So, you have to start with asking, ‘What are you going to be doing for us?’” (17:52 | Sharon Woodworth) 

• “Covid taught us, again, that if you’ve taken lean to such an extent that you’ve got the number of rooms based on the number of staff, it’s going to hurt you on that day, that month, or that year when you don’t have the staff and you need to expand the space. And lean can eradicate that future flexibility and that future expansion.” (27:08 | Sharon Woodworth)

 

Links

Connect with Sharon Woodworth

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-e-woodworth-faia-acha-edac-leed-92337111/

 

Connect with Lara: 

Website: https://drlarasalyer.com

The Catalyst Way: https://drlarasalyer.com/catalyst

Instagram: @drlarasalyer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drlarasalyer

Linked-In: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlarasalyer/

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/DrLaraSalyer

TikTok: @Creativity.Doctor

 

Podcast production and show notes provided by HiveCast.fm