Improve the patient experience and outcomes through the environment
HOW IS A VERTICAL TREATMENT SPACE BENEFICIAL?
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Utilizes less space
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Low-level acuity patients can be treated more quickly
WHY CHOOSE A VERTICAL TREATMENT SPACE? With an ED which treats 45,000 patients/year in small exam rooms, LGH knew that to accommodate an increased patient volume the ED needed to expedite the way they see patients. Creating a vertical treatment space enables staff to bring the lowlevel acuity patients into a separate waiting area. This provides patients with more access to staff. If the patients need labs or imaging, they come and go directly to and from this area. Vertical treatment also made sense for this project because it utilizes
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Not for inpatient/overnight use
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Staff can assist a larger patient volume
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Patients’ pain level is lower
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Operationally efficient
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Patients are more comfortable
less space, as a recliner has a smaller footprint compared to a stretcher. CODE REQUIREMENTS
“To successfully create space
With the benefits came some challenges. Code requirements have changed
to fast-track ED patients from a
since the facility was built, so all planned renovations needed to bring the space
tight footprint was a challenge
up to current code. In particular, the ratio for toilet rooms per number of beds had increased but the available space did not allow for code compliance. To ensure the
that brought the whole team
correct number of toilets per bed, LGH decided to decrease the size of a consultation
together with a driving
room to create space for an additional toilet room. The team found the code did not directly address treatment bays, which exist in the undefined gray area between triage space and treatment room. Working closely
common goal. The ability to help Lancaster achieve better
with a code reviewer, the team ensured the project’s scope was understood and the
throughput for their emergent
code interpreted correctly. Ultimately, the vertical ED bays are required to meet a
patients is rewarding, and we
treatment room level of design until the code is revised to address this emerging healthcare solution.
hope it leads to an increase in
A thorough code review of the ED confirmed LGH was allowed five vertical treatment
satisfaction scores as more
bays. However, since the bays are considered beds by code, handwashing stations
patients are treated swiftly and
needed to be accommodated in the design with one station per four bays. The area
conveniently.”
selected for renovation was equipped with two sinks, but one was considered a nourishment station because it had an icemaker. Since nourishment stations are
- Nicole Wood, Engagement Manager
required to have a sink, and cross-contamination was to be avoided, room for a single sink within one of the treatment bays was identified.
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case study: vertical treatment | PAGE 3