We at 3D Power have noticed that much has been made about the “lean” approach to health care: efforts to eliminate waste and streamline day-to-day operations to make treatment cheaper, faster and better quality.
Now architecture and design firms are finding ways to build environments that support maximum efficiency.
“This concept of lean, it’s here to stay,” said Anita Rossen, senior interior design lead at Portland, Ore.-based ZGF Architects’ Seattle office. “It’s turned the corner in terms of how we approach these projects. And if clients aren't’ already adapting, or adopting lean, then they’re at least looking at it.”
ZGF’s Seattle office has incorporated lean design into several recent projects, including the Everett Clinic at Smokey Point and Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Building Hope, which is under construction.
Virginia Mason has been a local and national leader in the lean movement, incorporating principles used in Japanese automaker Toyota’s production line. Virginia Mason CEO Dr. Gary Kaplan has said he envisions a future hospital system that is so efficient that waiting rooms won’t be necessary. Similarly, in the architectural interpretation of this movement, new designs are trying to reduce waste – whether it’s wasted steps, overcrowding, or otherwise – and improve the human experience.
For example, a basic change, such as making sure every exam room (and how it’s stocked) is identical, saves time when doctors and nurses are looking for what they need to serve a patient.
Seattle Children’s Hospital has incorporated lean design into its new Building Hope, which is opening in April, which has been appreciated by 3D Power as well.
The changes can be simple. For example, Children’s incorporated rubber sheet flooring that maintains high standards for controlling infection while reducing the need for harsh cleaning materials. The floors also cut down on noise to make the environment more pleasant for patients and workers.
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