Adding value through integrated technology requires a human touch

The healthcare industry is a huge driver of technological advancement. Less than a generation ago, complex cardiovascular and endovascular procedures typically required open heart surgery. In today’s medical landscape, such conditions are diagnosed and treated using advanced technologies that make surgery less traumatic and facilitate shorter recovery times. In large part, this is made possible by the capabilities of the hybrid operating room; a high-tech surgical theatre equipped with leading-edge medical imaging devices that support minimally invasive surgery. In today’s post, using the hybrid OR as a case study, I explore how relying on technology alone does not assure the success of a healthcare space, and how designers provide that vital human component, working as a conduit between technology providers and hospitals to determine the optimum design and processes.

Making the Technology Work

The hybrid OR combines imaging systems, diagnostics and surgery into a single suite. Large CT scanners provide remarkably detailed, multidimensional images that allow doctors to view a patient from the outside in. These images are created in near real-time—or close to real-time—to support near real-time diagnostics that guide surgeons in their treatment of the patient. When planning the design of a hybrid OR, however, this type of advanced imaging technology is often the first deployment for a facility, or even a completely new technology for the healthcare provider, and that is why the human factor is of such vital importance. One of our roles as designers is to bring together clients and manufacturers to determine the best way to assemble the often-complicated puzzle pieces that make up the hybrid OR.
 
To help strike that delicate balance between the human and the high-tech, we must first have an in-depth understanding of our client’s needs as well as a manufacturer’s capabilities. For example, we can help identify the appropriate technology for a healthcare space when we understand the scope of a clinician’s functional needs. Integrated technology is a key driver of GS&P’s Value-Added-Design framework for this reason. It is up to the design team to create an environment in which clinicians can use the technology effectively. We must dig deep into a client’s goals to identify what they want to accomplish in the clinical environment, and then bring all of the equipment together so it functions correctly. Additionally, we need to determine the types of procedures that will be performed, staff that will use the suite, and where to locate the hybrid OR. We must also know how the procedures and processes will work.

It is also beneficial to build time into the design schedule for surgeons and physicians to gain a better understanding of the technology options. It can be helpful for them to visit hybrid ORs at other facilities to see some of the equipment and technology options in-person. This provides a valuable touchpoint for the clinicians before we begin mapping and evaluating design options. 

At Boca Raton Regional Hospital, GS&P created a 750-square-foot hybrid OR in place of the previous pre-operative holding area, which improved the flow in the department, and provided cutting-edge technology to support the hospital’s cardiac program.

Visualizing the Solution

Interestingly, our ability to create a design that drives value for clients doesn’t only depend on choosing and integrating the right technology—our designs are also aided by technology itself. Just as advanced imaging allows a doctor to see inside a patient to determine the path forward, the technology we use for design helps us to visualize the solutions. Using Revit and 3D technology, we can work with manufacturers to input their technology into models. This includes scanners, lighting, booms, surgical arms and more. The end result is advanced visualizations of the hybrid OR, including all of the related technology. At a critical connecting point, we bring together the client, the design team and manufacturers to discuss the models. Similar to the near real-time diagnostics enabled in hybrid ORs, these models allow us to address how changing out or even moving a single piece of equipment impacts the entire process—from the budget to the effect on various stakeholders.

 
The highly advanced, GS&P-designed OR suites at Saint Thomas in Nashville allow caregivers to verify and adapt procedures live during an operation without ever having to move the patient or leave the room.

The Human Side of High-Tech

While advanced medical technology offers sophisticated diagnostic tools that benefit surgeons and patients alike, the human element must ultimately be a part of the equation when it comes to improving patient outcomes. As healthcare designers, we provide that “human touch,” serving our clients as a trusted “go between” because we understand their processes, equipment implications and the overall impact on the hospital systems. And it is our responsibility to bring together the very best technology that will facilitate improved processes, and create the optimum environment for the end users.