This session will present, compare and critically examine the design issues, strategies and features of two distinct patient room concepts being employed in recently completed healthcare facilities: The Clemson University [CU]/ Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System [SRHS] Patient Room Prototype and the same-handed room design at Dublin Methodist Hospital. It will also present preliminary findings of research studies being conducted on these room designs and engage participants in the identification of additional research studies that could be conducted on these two room designs that would be useful to design professionals, clinicians and hospital decision makers. Finally, the panel will engage participants in discussion on the translation of research findings into design principals and strategies that can be more broadly applied in the design of private patient rooms for acute care and acuity adaptable needs.

Each of the patient room designs represents distinct design concepts and features. The Clemson University/Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System Patient Room Prototype involves mirror image rooms with inboard headwall toilets designed to optimize sight lines into the room from the corridor and optimize access for patients and staff without compromising the exterior wall or family zone in the room. It also features a unique headwall and footwall design. The patient room at Dublin Methodist features a same-handed design concept where each room is organized in standardized and consistent arrangement. Both rooms were designed to optimize clinical performance, health outcomes, patient and staff satisfaction, and patient/staff safety yet represent a distinct approach toward achieving these goals.

The presentation will also cover the design-research process employed in the design development and evaluation of each room concept, as well as report on preliminary research studies conducted on each room. The CU/SRHS Patient Room Prototype room was developed in a collaborative interdisciplinary design-research process involving multiple disciplines from two Universities, SRHS, Industry advisors and multiple design professionals. It ran in parallel with a design process for SRHSs new Village at Pelham Hospital. The Dublin Methodist Hospital was conducted as a Center for Health Design Pebble Project involving both the design team and hospital before, during and after design and occupancy.

The intent of the session is to present, compare and examine two distinct room designs in terms of specific performance measures, and examine the research methods and insights gained from each design and research approach. The session will cover challenges and barriers to optimizing design performance and integrating design and research. Further, panelists will seek input from participants on how to improve research on patient room design, how to translate research into usable design recommendations and lessons learned for improved patient room design in the future.