TELEMEDICINE
screens, semi-enclosed work pods, quiet zones, and acoustic treatments).
Staff support
Entry and reception
Conclusion
Telehealth-only buildings or spaces won’t work in all circumstances, and possibly not even in the majority. However, the potential for some patient cohorts to be safely cared for virtually has been demonstrated unequivocally in 2020. As healthcare systems shift gradually to more home-based care, some of the spatial solutions shown here may not be as radical as they look, and the many and varied positive experiences of clinicians around the world during the pandemic will also feed a greater willingness to innovate.
Staff support and meeting rooms n Telehealth workpoint n Staff circulation
Figure 5: In some locations in Australia, activity-based working – where staff use different task-appropriate settings throughout the day, rather than an allocated desk or office – is becoming more common.
it may be activity-based working, where staff use different task-appropriate settings throughout the day, rather than an allocated desk or office (Fig 5).
A ‘significant departure’
This model is a significant departure from the ‘Business as usual’ and ‘mixing it up’ scenarios. It accommodates no patients, only staff, with a variety of telehealth and other work settings in open and enclosed spaces. Different-sized rooms allow clinicians to find the most suitable space to accommodate groups or equipment. The various individual settings (semi- enclosed work pods, open desks, enclosed rooms) provide a choice of work points, and create zones that can be designated ‘quiet’ or more collaborative. A reception may still be required to direct visiting clinicians or administrators, but no waiting space is required, because any visitors to the space can be directed to multi-purpose lounge or meeting areas. When staff and tasks change on a daily basis, as they often do, the hospital workplace can be designed to be more flexible. Tailored work settings for telehealth, consultations, education, research, and administration, within the one workplace can increase efficiencies (no more empty offices on the doctor’s day off), and enhance quality care (no more telehealth in a cupboard). Concerns for patient privacy in a more open and flexible workplace can be addressed through thoughtful design solutions (privacy
30 Health Estate Journal October 2021
The swift and largely successful switch to virtual healthcare delivery has generated much-needed industry interest in what clinicians need to be able to continue to offer telehealth – beyond good Wi-Fi and a well-positioned laptop. These discussions will ideally lead to more detailed healthcare facility design guidelines that help hospitals deliver safe, more efficient, and more convenient, telehealth services to their patients.
References 1 Mueller, B. 2020. Telemedicine arrives in the UK. New York Times, 4 April, 2020 [
https://tinyurl.com/48w5w5ba].
2 Lewis, M. 2021. Telehealth in the United Kingdom: Considerations for Providers, JD SUPRA website, February 5, 2021 [
https://tinyurl.com/3vccnb8v].
3 Fernandez, M. 2020. Telehealth to Experience Massive Growth with COVID-19 Pandemic. Frost and Sullivan [
https://tinyurl.com/yt65fumz].
Michaela Sheahan
Michaela Sheahan is an experienced researcher who ‘knows how to sift through mountains of data, observations, and publications, to find those bits of gold that can make a difference to our designers, our projects and our clients, particularly in health and education’.
An interior designer by trade, she sees design as both an art and a science, but her remit falls squarely in the (social) science realm. Hassell said: “Her work has earned her industry recognition, and taken her all over the globe to explore the experiences of people who commission and use buildings or spaces. Observing their movements and interactions, talking to them, and understanding how places and spaces shape their behaviour, helps her answer fundamental questions about what we can – and should – achieve through design.”
4 Snoswell, C, Smith A, Caffrey, Telehealth in lockdown meant 7 million fewer chances to transmit the coronavirus. The Conversation, 7 June 2020 [
https://theconversation.com/ telehealth-in-lockdown-meant-7-million- fewer-chances-to-transmit-the- coronavirus-141041].
5 Moore G, Du Toit A, Jameson B, Liu A, Harris M. 2020. The effectiveness of ‘virtual hospital’ models of care: a Rapid Evidence Scan brokered by the Sax Institute for Sydney Local Health District. Society for Healthcare Strategy and Market Development [
www.saxinstitute.org.au].
6 Consumer Health Forum, 2020. Patients Feeling Better About Telehealth [
https://chf.org.au/media-releases/ patients-feeling-better-telehealth].
7 Australasian Health Infrastructure Alliance, 2020. Part B – Health Facility Briefing and Planning 0155 – Ambulatory Care & Community Health, Revision 7.0 September 2020 [
https://healthfacilityguidelines.com.au].
hej
8 Mercy Hospital, 2021. World’s First Facility Dedicated to Virtual Care [
https://www.mercyvirtual.net/worlds- first-virtual-care-center].
9 Sydney Local Health District, 2020. RPA Virtual. Sydney Connect website. [
https://tinyurl.com/48exs2dp].
10 Thornton J. 2020. The virtual wards supporting patients with Covid-19 in the community. BMJ 2020 Jun 4; 369: m2119. doi: 10.1136/bmj.m2119 [
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m2119].
11 Sander, E. 2016. The backlash against open-plan offices: segmented space. The Conversation website [
https://tinyurl.com/y4w35bjk].
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