INTENSIVE CARE FACILITIES
the same medical equipment. Adequate space around the bed and ceiling supply system, conveniently positioned sinks and hand disinfection dispensers, and ceiling lifts, facilitate the work of staff (Fig. 3), while dialysis is available in all rooms. While it proved impossible to provide natural light and windows in all the rooms, all feature dynamic lighting to support circadian rhythms, and nature-themed photos on the walls (Fig. 4).
Special attention was paid to acoustics in the new unit, and as a result they are rated as ‘excellent’. The ability to carefully monitor and observe patients is key, and here the new unit supports staff in many ways. For example, the doors to patient rooms can be left partly open, while although staff cannot constantly be at the bedside, technological innovations such as alert systems transfer vital information, while alerts from the monitoring devices are automatically routed to staff smartphones. The display terminals of the smart control centre show the shift-leader the situation in all the patient rooms (Fig. 5), making managing the unit much simpler.
Layout was critical
The ICU’s new layout was another critical factor; the design needed to minimise travel distances for nurses. The wards were divided in four modules, each with six beds, and with each module equipped with its own office and small supplies. Among the technological innovations incorporated were no-touch operation patient room doors that can be opened fully or partly, or locked open, and the ability for staff to control and adjust the internal temperature. The unit also features the hospital’s first ‘smart’ (electronic) medicine cabinets (Fig. 6).
practical training. All the medical equipment was new, the layout was three times bigger than the old premises, and the new patient data management system was installed at the same time. Overall the staff are happy with the new premises, with their pleasant indoor conditions, and because everything is new. The success of the design will be evaluated in the autumn of 2019 via a post-occupancy evaluation conducted among staff. At this point patient care statistics will also be carefully studied and compared.
Figure 6: The new unit has ‘smart’, electronically operated, medicine cabinets.
Advantages of the use of ‘VR’ Although the concept of designing all the spaces in the new unit using ‘virtual reality’ was discussed, only the patient rooms, nurses’ station, and bathrooms, were thus designed, due to time and cost restraints. Both the size and configuration of the rooms settled upon were key. The approaches harnessed in the EVICURES project supported staff involvement, and helped to prepare them for a significant change in working conditions. The use of co-design and ‘virtual models’ aided mutual understanding, and meant that all parties could express their views.
Conclusions
The new intensive and intermediate care unit and the interventional cardiac unit became operational in April 2018. Prior to start-up staff received three months of
The Seinäjoki Central Hospital provides care for 200.000 local inhabitants. The new ICU, with its six intensive care, and 18 intermediate care (including two isolation rooms) beds, offers the best available care in new premises, staffed by 10 doctors and 100 other staff. The unit will receive around 3,200 patients per year, although predictions suggest that this number may increase by up to 25 per cent.
Major reforms
Finland’s biggest reform in health and social services to date will commence in 2021, with the preparations already under way all over Finland. The country will be divided into 12 emergency service units, with the Seinäjoki Central Hospital set to be among the 12 ‘around-the-clock’ emergency service units following this reform.
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Further reading 1 A user-orientated, evidence-based design project of the first Finnish single room ICU, Results of EVICURES project (2016). VTT Technology 252.
www.vtt.fi/ inf/pdf/technology/2016/T252.pdf
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC-wrfP6TQY
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February 2019 Health Estate Journal 31
WIRELESS SOLUTIONS INCLUDE: NURSE CALL, STAFF ALARM, CALL, FIRE ALARM.
©Samuel Hoisko
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