Patient-centred design

PatienT - cen tred des ign

Ins ide the thought process behind the ne w Men ta l Hea lth and Substance Use Cen tre

“Decisions we’re making right now Sherbrooke served its purpose rather for almost five of his 35 years in mental

will impact mental health care at well,” says Mark. “But as a place for health care. “We plan to remedy that

our hospital for decades to come,” mental health patients — well, it has its with our new Centre.”

says Mark Welch, Royal Columbian Hospital’s Redevelopment’s Project Planning Leader for Clinical Programs. “It’s a huge responsibility, but also a wonderful opportunity to improve our patients’ experience and outcomes.”

A new 75-bed Mental Health and Substance Use Centre is what Mark’s referring to. It’s the centrepiece of Phase One of hospital redevelopment and will replace the aging 30- bed Sherbrooke Centre by 2020. Sherbrooke was originally built as a nurses’ residence over 60 years ago but has been used for mental health patients since 1981. “As a nurses’ dorm, limitations.”

“Sherbrooke doesn’t have enough beds or space, and the facility is very outdated,” says Mark, who has worked there Phase 3 HOSPITAL RENOVATIONS Phase 1 NEW MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE, & PARKADE Phase 1 INTERIM HELIPORT SITE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT Overview of plans to rede velop Roya l Columbian Hosp ita l.

To get the new building’s design just right, the team tapped into their collective wisdom. “Nurses, psychiatrists, therapists, hospital leaders, and support staff have all

Phase 1 REPLACEMENT PARKING

Brunette Avenue Phase 2 PERMANENT HELIPORT

SITE FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT

Phase 2 NEW ACUTE CARE TOWER, EMERGENCY & PARKADE

Phase 1 NEW ENERGY CENTRE

Outdoor spaces like this one at Roya l Columbian Hosp ita l a re being planned for the ne w Men ta l Hea lth and Substance Use Cen tre. The Founda tion is ra ising $9.1 million for the ne w cen tre.

provided input into how we can integrate best practices and modern standards in order to elevate patientcentred care,” says Mark. “We started by asking what kind of care have we always wanted to give and what environment have we wanted to create, but Sherbrooke wouldn’t let us.”

People who’ve experienced mental illness, and their families, were also asked for their input. They helped validate the long list of requirements that had been developed.

“We want the building’s design, and even its décor, to be part of the therapy toolkit we use to positively affect people’s moods,” says Mark. “Creating an ambience of well-being, positivity, and healing so people feel safe and able to express their true feelings was a top priority for everyone.” “We want our new space to be inviting, soothing, and spacious — like a beautiful, healing sanctuary with lots of light, art, and even access to nature,” says Mark. “When you first walk through the door you should feel safe and like you’re going to get better.”

TOP 8 WAYS OUR NEW MENTAL HEALTH BUILDING WILL BE BETTER FOR PATIENTS

There’s a lot for patients and their families to like about our future Mental Health and Substance Use Centre.

We want to create a beautiful healing sanctuary for mental health patients

The design and layout will give patients more control of their environment, too. This can support a sense of autonomy and wellbeing, and even their engagement in therapy. Every floor will have spaces that allow for all levels of interaction, from very personal and private conversations, to larger group and social gatherings, to alone time outdoors, or workout time in exercise rooms. The new Older Adult Psychiatric Unit, Fraser Health’s first, will also have a walking loop to help elderly patients walk off anxiety and improve mobility.

Every patient will have their own private room and ensuite bathroom that feels like a personal retreat. “Our goal is to create a more home-like environment that feels much less institutional,” says Mark. Having a space like this will go a long way to helping recovery. “Our patients come to us in crisis, and it’s our job to show them humanity, soothe their anxiety, and enhance their self-worth while they’re in our care. When they leave us, we want it to be with a sense of growth and personal insight, and renewed strength and resilience that helps them cope better with life and any future crisis,” emphasizes Mark. “Improving the patients’ experience has a positive effect on nurses, care staff and psychiatrists too,” adds Mark. “When our patients do better it makes our work more fulfilling and keeps us

1

150% MORE BEDS With 45 more beds, for a total of 75, and with 4½ times more space, we’ll be able to treat 800 more inpatients each year.

PATIENT-CENTRED DESIGN Our new Centre will be designed specically for mental health and be a welcoming, beautiful space to help patients feel better, faster, and for longer. 2

SPECIAL UNIT FOR OLDER ADULTS One entire oor will house Fraser Health’s rst Older Adult Psychiatric Unit with 20 beds to care for seniors dealing with acute depression, anxiety or psychosis. 3

PRIVATE PATIENT ROOMS For improved privacy each patient will have their own room and ensuite bathroom with some of the comforts of home in a personal retreat. 4

OUTDOOR PATIOS If people want to enjoy the morning sun there will be an outdoor patio on every inpatient oor, that’s safe and secure, to allow them to connect with nature. 5

SPACE TO BE SOCIAL OR ALONE Every inpatient unit will have a lounge to visit with family, friends, and other patients, plus a comfort room for solitude or quiet time. 6

LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHTING Windows, natural lighting, and art will all help to create a mood of sanctuary, well-being, and positivity to help patients know they’re valued and respected. 7

A PLACE TO EXERCISE Patients will be able to use an exercise room and life skills assessment room on each oor to help them get into shape for life, work, and the road to recovery. 8

Coming by early 2020 to Royal Columbian Hospital

engaged and motivated...and that in turn affects our patients, creating a nice positive cycle.”

“We expect our new state-of-theart building will help more of those positive human connections to happen,” ends Mark. “After all, human connection is such a big part of the hospital experience, especially in mental health care.”