Interprofessional Simulations to Inform Perioperative Facility Planning and Design

Guidelines in Practice: Design and Maintenance of the Surgical Suite

“…Visualization of and immersion into the proposed space gives the individual a sense of the workflow, allowing them to provide the interdisciplinary team with valuable feedback before the design project is completed. In an original report on the use of interprofessional simulation during planning and design of a new perioperative space, the design team described how they incorporated the staff members’ wants, needs, and visions through evidence‐based health care design principles 4 . They constructed a full‐scale (ie, 32,000 sq ft) model of the proposed perioperative space in a large warehouse that served as a simulation environment.…”

“…The average overall design of the first model scored a mean (SD) of 3.61 (0.49) on a five‐point scale (5 being the highest score and 1 being the lowest score); after incorporating feedback, the second model scored a mean (SD) of 3.78 (0.41) ( P = .024). The researchers concluded the use of interactive sessions in a model space can considerably affect the final construction design 4 …”

“…In an original report on the use of interprofessional simulation during planning and design of a new perioperative space, the design team described how they incorporated the staff members' wants, needs, and visions through evidence-based health care design principles. 4 They constructed a full-scale (ie, 32,000 sq ft) model of the proposed perioperative space in a large warehouse that served as a simulation environment. The model was built out of foam and to the specifications of the floor plans and included real OR equipment.…”

“…The researchers concluded the use of interactive sessions in a model space can considerably affect the final construction design. 4 Small (ie, fewer than 35 patient beds) or critical-access hospitals have different design requirements than hospitals with more than 35 beds and outpatient facilities; specifications include the following:…”

Designing for Patient Safety and Efficiency: Simulation-Based Hospital Design Testing

“…In the design of new healthcare facilities, the ability to address safety and mitigate risk in the preconstruction period is imperative, practical, and cost-effective (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality [AHRQ], 2016; Joseph & Rashid, 2007; Taylor et al, 2014). Design decisions made in the early phases of hospital planning, while unintended, can lead to downstream effects that impact patient and staff safety (Peavey et al, 2012; Torres-Landa et al, 2019). These “accidents waiting to happen” or latent safety threats (Wheeler et al, 2013) have the potential to result in healthcare-related errors or adverse events (Joseph & Rashid, 2007; Reason, 2000; J.…”