How many corners does a gurney need to turn on the trip between triage and the OR? What is the best placement of the bed in a patient room to ensure maximum privacy? Is there a need for refrigeration in the medications room for breast milk?
Final design workshop for NICU likened to “speed dating” [Photo Gallery]
February 11, 2013 by
Akron Children’s Hospital’s NICU team began its final design kaizen with an approach that could be compared to “speed dating.”
How will healthcare look in 20 years? That would be nice to know as we build now
January 24, 2013 by
As Akron Children’s Hospital moves forward with its $200 million campus expansion, a crystal ball would come in handy. With health care reform, changing demographics, and other uncertainties, our goal is to build flexibility into our design in every way possible. We can make educated guesses regarding future patient volumes and acuity, reimbursement levels, the […]
Simulations help team design most efficient ER
December 12, 2012 by
A 15-month-old lies in an ER trauma room after being transported by EMS from an adult hospital. Lab results indicate possible kidney failure. A 6-month-old suffering seizures is being treated in an ER patient room. A baby has been found not breathing in a bassinette by a babysitter and has been brought to the ER […]
Putting the You in NICU
November 9, 2012 by
Jordan and I attended the mock-up of Akron Children’s new neonatal intensive care unit. To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect. In fact I should have prepared ourselves for a longer stay with more snacks and distractions for the little man.
No kid wants surgery, but here’s to making the process the best it can be
October 2, 2012 by
As Akron Children’s Hospital moves forward with its plans to build a $200 million critical care tower, teams continue to meet, brainstorm and test out architectural designs in a true-to-scale setting in weeklong Kaizens. Kaizen is a Lean term that refers to improving processes continually by making incremental changes.
Parents, kids create wish list for their ‘dream’ hospital
September 5, 2012 by
In a free-wheeling exchange of ideas, the parents who participated in a focus group to help design Akron Children’s Hospital’s new critical care tower clearly love much about the current facility. They hope to see Akron Children’s culture preserved as it grows bigger.
‘Saving lives’ in a mock trauma room
August 17, 2012 by
It’s 3 a.m. in the ER when the call comes in. There’s been a car accident. A 16-year-old boy – unrestrained and the driver – is being life-flighted. He is in respiratory distress and has head injuries. His 10-year-old brother and front-seat passenger is coming by ambulance. His injuries, neck pain and an obvious deformity to the lower body, appear less serious.
Integrated Lean Project Delivery flips the design process
August 13, 2012 by
For the past few months, hospital leaders, patient families, doctors, nurses and clinical staff have been meeting regularly with architects, builders and Akron Children’s Lean Six Sigma process improvement team to plan the new patient tower, which is part of a $200 million expansion.
