{"id":6188,"date":"2015-11-11T13:40:58","date_gmt":"2015-11-11T02:40:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/asia-en\/?post_type=case-study&p=6188"},"modified":"2023-02-09T19:10:06","modified_gmt":"2023-02-09T08:10:06","slug":"methodist-richardson-medical-center","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.steelcase.com\/asia-en\/research\/articles\/topics\/design\/methodist-richardson-medical-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Methodist Richardson Medical Center"},"content":{"rendered":"

Reinventing Spaces to Help Improve the Hospital Journey<\/h3>\n

Methodist Richardson Medical Center, which recently opened a new location in suburban Dallas, has innovations throughout its four floors, including new ways of using space to support patients, family members and visitors.<\/p>\n

These new spaces fulfill a longtime goal for Methodist Richardson president, Ken Hutchenrider, FACHE. After 25 years in healthcare leadership, he\u2019d seen enough of the traditional, uninspiring waiting rooms found in most hospitals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had always noticed throughout my entire career that waiting rooms would get very jumbled. They didn\u2019t lay out well. People wanted to use them for different functions. One of the things that we identified early on was providing non-traditional waiting rooms,\u201d explains Hutchenrider.<\/p>\n

\"Methodist
The hospital chose Steelcase\u2019s Regard system to solve the challenges of today\u2019s waiting places, where people sit isolated, disconnected, uncomfortable and unproductive. Providing the right blend of solutions, Regard helps make these moments more meaningful by offering greater comfort, connection and privacy.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The new waiting spaces are based on how life has changed for patients and families. \u201cEvery one of our patients and their family members has two lives,\u201d says Hutchenrider. \u201cThey have the life of trying to care for the patient, and then they have all of the aspects of their daily life that they still have to keep working through. So as we looked at the design of the waiting room, we wanted to provide a space where their other life or their main life, if you will, is going on, that they could actually move off to a space that was functional for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hospital leadership, along with Perkins and Will Architects, Steelcase and its dealer BKM, worked together to create the new waiting areas, and traveled to Steelcase global headquarters to discuss research and insights.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we first went up to Grand Rapids, I knew sort of what we wanted to do, but I didn\u2019t think there was any way that we could make that happen. Steelcase brought their knowledge base, all of their intelligence, and we came together to create this waiting room that by far has turned out to be one of the best features in this new hospital,\u201d says Hutchenrider.<\/p>\n

The complete planning and design process for the hospital, including building a pilot space to test new hospital spaces, took two years. The result was a new approach to waiting spaces where people can do much more than just wait.<\/p>\n

All Methodist Richardson waiting areas are comprised of three zones, each supporting different activities. The first zone offers lounge chairs or a sofa, and a TV. \u201cIt\u2019s a more traditional zone where people take a quick break,\u201d says Hutchenrider.<\/p>\n

A second zone includes tables and seating where visitors can use portable technology, meet with others, or bring food from the cafeteria or bistro and dine together. \u201cPeople can come in, bring their food, sit down as a family and have a family meal,\u201d he says<\/p>\n

\"Methodist
During times of transition, Regard helps everyone make the best use of their valuable time. It fosters connections between people and technology. It provides choice and control over privacy and posture. Regard helps make waiting more productive and enjoyable for patients and their family members.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The third zone is a quiet space with comfortable lounge furniture. \u201cSomeone who needs to conduct business while a loved one\u2019s in the hospital can sit down in a very quiet area and conduct business.\u201d All of the waiting areas are outfitted with the Regard <\/a>modular lounge system.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had business people tell me, \u2018I feel like I haven\u2019t left work, because I can bring my laptop in. I can plug in.\u2019 We have wireless that they can tap into it for free, and they can conduct all of their business just like they could at their office or their home. And I\u2019ve had families say to me, \u2018It\u2019s so nice because we can have our children watching a kids\u2019 TV program,\u2019 while they\u2019re back resting or talking about some of the decisions you have to make when you have a loved one in a hospital,\u201d says Hutchenrider.<\/p>\n

Since people naturally seek separation from strangers and closeness to family members while they wait, Regard offers dividers, screens and planters to create a sense of privacy and distance.<\/p>\n

“Going into this project, waiting rooms were not something we were focusing on or we thought would be a feature, and that would receive as much praise, but it’s turned out to be such a major element in this new hospital. Our new waiting rooms are by far one of the best features of our new hospital,” he says.<\/p>\n

\"Methodist<\/p>\n

\"Methodist
\u201cEvery one of our patients and their family members has two lives. They have the life of trying to care for the patient, and then they have all of the aspects of their daily life that they still have to keep working through. So as we looked at the design of the waiting room, we wanted to provide a space where their other life or their main life, if you will, is going on, that they could actually move off to a space that was functional for them.\u201d
Ken Hutchenrider, President, Methodist Richardson Medical Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Methodist<\/p>\n

\"Methodist<\/p>\n

“Our new waiting rooms are by far one of the best features of our new hospital.”<\/p>Ken HutchenriderPresident, Methodist Richardson Medical Center<\/span><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n

Methodist Richardson\u2019s patient rooms employ a zone approach, too. The first space inside the room is the zone for doctors, nurses and other caregivers. The patient zone is around the bed and includes an Empath <\/a>recliner with comforting heat and massage. Further into the room, past the patient’s bed, is the family zone, including a couch that transforms into a comfortable bed.<\/p>\n

“The family can see where the nurses, doctors and others work. The open real estate by the big window naturally draws families to it: they know they\u2019re not in the way and they’re there for the patient. The room lends itself to everyone playing their role,” says Irene Strejc, BSN, chief nursing officer.<\/p>\n

\"Methodist
Methodist Richardson chose Steelcase’s Empath recliner and Sieste lounge to create a comfortable family zone that gives family members a place to relax and sleep if necessary.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Methodist<\/p>\n

The Empath recliner includes an easy-to-activate central locking system and arms that are easy to grip and supportive during patient moves. Arms flip down for safer transfers between the bed and chair.<\/p>\n

Family members may also use the recliner when the patient isn’t occupying it. “The family zone is a place that invites the family. They have a place to relax, a sofa to sleep in if they need to. They can participate in the patient’s care and we’re not working around them. It helps us deliver care without interruption,” says Strejc.<\/p>\n

Satisfaction surveys show that patients are delighted with the new waiting areas and patient rooms. “We get comments back from patients that say, ‘My family wanted to make sure you knew that we are so thrilled with not only the patient care but also the care you provided to the families,'” says Hutchenrider.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never imagined that by working collaboratively with Steelcase and with BKM that we could actually bring this all about. But we\u2019ve brought it about. It\u2019s in place. It\u2019s happening here and we\u2019ve gotten the positive accolades back from patients and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Methodist Richardson Medical Center<\/h3>\n
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