designing for safety: what the healthcare industry can learn from the automobile industry
DESCRIPTION
Patient safety is a primary concern for hospital leaders these days. Most are focusing on process improvement, which is good. But they also need to look at how hospital building design can impact safety and take a lesson from Ralph Nader. See why.TRANSCRIPT
Designing for Safety
What the Healthcare Industry Can Learn from the Automobile Industry
1965
When Ralph Nader’s book came out, it was a WAKE-UP call for the auto industry to create safer cars.
The subject of Nader’s book was the rear-engined Chevy Corvair, whose DESIGN flaws caused crashes
and did not protect drivers or passengers.
BAD
BAD
BAD
1966
As a result of Nader’s advocacy, motor vehicle and highway laws were passed that CHANGED the design of automobiles and driving behavior.
Since then, the number motor vehicle deaths in the U.S. has SIGNIFICANTLY dropped.
50,894 in 1966
34,080 in 2012
Despite the fact that Americans are driving THREE times as many miles.
The healthcare industry got a similar safety WAKE-UP call when this Institute of Medicine report came out.
1999
1999
IOM estimate:98,000 people die a year from PREVENTABLE medical errors.
2013
HARD TRUTH:As many as 400,000 people may DIE a year from preventable medical errors.
Which is more than if TWO jumbo jets crashed every day, killing all aboard.
Why aren’t the American people up in arms, calling for drastic REFORM?
Why isn’t the MEDIA all over this?
Why are people STILL going to hospitals?
The healthcare industry IS working on the problem.
But CHANGE is slow.
And, they are mostly working on process improvements.
Which is GOOD…
BUT, improving the design of the physical environment is
barely on their radar.
Because, just like the design of the 1960s automobiles contributed to deaths, so can the
design of the HOSPITAL ENVIRONMENT.
BADBAD
BAD
It, TOO, should first, do no harm.
When staff is stressed, they make MISTAKES. Some design ideas to reduce their stress:
Acoustical materials to mitigate noise
Unit layout to decrease walking distances
Adequate space, proper lighting, and furniture to support computer tasks
Access to natural light and nature
Places of respite
Design can also support PATIENT safety by reducing the risk of infections and falls. Some ideas:
Private patient rooms
Surface materials that are easily cleanable
Proper ventilation and HVAC systems
Patient room layout that provides an easy path from the bed to the bathroom
Distributed nurse stations for better observation and view of patient room
Non-slip flooring
All these ideas are supported by RESEARCH that links the
design of the physical environment to outcomes.
BUT, improving the design of the physical environment is
barely on their radar.Much of the research can
be found HERE.
Here’s a hospital that did it RIGHT.
Dublin Methodist Hospital, OH.
And, there are many MORE examples. Large and small.
This IS not ROCKET SCIENCE
Thanks, Ralph, for making our cars safer and saving millions of lives.
Healthcare, now it’s your turn.
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