St. John's Mercy - Visioning



Challenge
The direction for this project was to create a patient unit in renovated space to be used as a Learning Lab to improve future design for delivery of care. The project included physical structure, staffing and the care delivery process. The remodel was to result in a measurable difference in patient, family & staff satisfaction through improvement in the hospital experience. Successful ideas and recommendations from this dynamic project would be extrapolated to the rest of the hospital.

Process
The team determined issues relevant to improved units to identify opportunities: 

• Staff Work Experience
• Performance Efficiency
• Patient, Family and Visitor Experience
• Clinical Quality

WHR Advisors led the established committee through several visioning sessions examining possible solutions for identified issues. Benchmarks for healing environments, unit size, flexibility and operational efficiency were reviewed. The team developed a vision with targeted goals.   

Solution
Finally, the team outlined a program and developed a design to improve communication amongst providers, patients and family; improve workflow & productivity; provide a healing environment with interdisciplinary work areas and test the clinical application of technologies. The 32-bed unit is designed with all private rooms. Eight clusters of 4 beds each provide a decentralized work area.