Healthcare Design - August 2016 - 117

ADVERTISEMENT

Q&A

with Josh Ripplinger
AIA, EDAC, ASHE, healthcare planner and
architect, Horty Elving, A Wold Company
How has your business
changed in the face of
healthcare reform?
As healthcare organizations
are shifting towards
population health models,
we are experiencing
an increase with
those organizations
making broader
connections with the
communities they
serve. We have seen
healthcare organizations
plan to provide clinic
and rehabilitation
services in schools,
government facilities,
wellness centers, etc. Our

firm connects networks
within the communities
where we work and
facilitates collaborative
planning processes with
the various organizations
to achieve innovative
outcomes which support
healthier communities.
What is technology's
role in the design of
healthcare spaces?
Technology is embedded in
our discussions regarding
all aspects of designing
healthcare spaces. From
integrating registration
kiosks, to patient tracking

systems, to various
forms of telehealth, to
hybrid operating rooms
technology is a main
driver in planning today's
healthcare facilities. That
being said, one of the
primary ways it is truly
adding value to healthcare
organizations is utilizing
building technologies
to optimize facility
performance. As the
bottom line keeps getting
tighter and tighter, we
are experiencing more of
our client partners fully
analyzing both first costs
and long-term operational
savings to make the best
long-term decisions for
their organizations. 
What role does
collaboration play in your
process? How do you
ensure the right people
have a voice at the
design table? Facilitating
a collaborative planning
and design process is
the foundation of our
commitment to our client
partner relationships.
We work shoulder to
shoulder with our clients
throughout the entire
process beginning with
visioning sessions to define
what success looks like
on a project and continue
through to the occupancy
of the spaces when we
complete follow-up surveys
and visits to analyze how
the outcomes align with
the vision we worked
so hard create together.
Mock-up spaces have

Atrium at Perham Health in Perham, Minn. Photo: Market Photo, Minneapolis.

been one of our most
successful tools in getting
input from the leaders, users,
patients, and their families to
insure all people have had a
voice in our process.
How will the design of
healthcare spaces change
to meet the demands of
today's consumers?
Most of today's consumers
expect an experience that
is close, convenient, and
customized to meet their
expectations. The response
from healthcare organizations
has been planning and
designing facilities that
are flexible and adaptable
to meet the wide range of
expectations from consumers
today, but at the same time
not preventing the evolving
needs of the consumers
of tomorrow. The challenges
experienced with trying
to integrate technology
into aged facilities has not
been forgotten by our client
partners leadership teams
and they are more conscious
about having an eye
toward the future. 
www.hortyelving.com
http://www.hortyelving.com http://www.hortyelving.com
Healthcare Design - August 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - August 2016
