Healthcare Design - May 2022 - 15

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TAKE 5
DAVID MEEK
The principal at Shepley Bulfinch
(Boston) discusses the top five trends and
issues getting his attention right now.
1. KEEPING FLEXIBLE
With the pandemic lingering, institutions are reprioritizing projects that
went on hold and considering how they can best prepare their organizations
for the next big crisis. Room layouts will evolve with various equipment
and added infrastructure to address contamination concerns and
pressurization requirements. At inpatient settings, facilities could incorporate
more flexibility by adding buffer spaces at the entrance of each bed
wing to ensure patient rooms are not sacrificed for anterooms to don and
doff personal protective equipment.
2. RENEWED FOCUS ON STAFF RESPITE
As the exhaustion of hospital caregivers becomes more and more evident,
how can design help provide respite? Ideally, staff respite spaces should be
placed along the exterior of a building to provide a connection to the outdoors
and in a quiet, offstage area so that staff have a place to step away.
Creating regenerative environments is not only essential to recruitment
and retention but also a simple way to make a huge impact. By using color,
graphics, accent lighting, and comfortable seating, much like those of an
airport lounge, we can create great improvements for staff at a modest cost.
3. EXPANDING FOOD OFFERINGS
Designs are being tailored to accommodate the expansion of food offerings
as café spaces and hospital menus continue to diversify for cultural
and medical needs. Starting with kosher options, healthcare organizations
have since expanded to be more mindful of other cultural, dietary, and allergy
restrictions, from gluten, dairy, and nut-free stations to vegan and halal
cuisines. Food service consultants have been essential to programming,
menu selection, storage, and food presentation.
4. TOUCHLESS EVERYTHING
While most automated systems provide convenience, they can also reduce
waste and increase safety. For example, a push paddle actuator of an automatic
door can now have touchless sensory technology, eliminating potential
germ transmission and reducing the strain from individuals physically
pushing open entryways. Additionally, automation can be used to improve
lab environment efficiencies by increasing turnaround times and prioritizing
specimen processing.
5. A FUTURE OF COVID CLINICS?
The long-lasting health effects resulting from COVID-19 will likely drive
the need for dedicated clinical spaces. Similar to a multispecialty clinic,
COVID-19 clinics will require a variety of neurological, cardiac, pulmonary,
and counseling needs that are specialized in navigating physical setbacks
and sensory loss, such as cognitive challenges, cardiac irregularity, lowered
lung capacity, and sleep disorders. While we don't know exactly what these
spaces will need to accommodate, it's important that we don't wait too long
to start designing them, as history has a habit of repeating itself. 
MAY 2022
15
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Healthcare Design - May 2022

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