Summary of floor plan

Facility Research and Selection 1

Facility Research and Selection

HCS/529

Facility Research and Selection

The facility design and planning process involves great though and consideration of the needs of a community. It is very important that the types of patients frequently brought in by ambulance, walk-ins, and drop-offs of the medical facility are known. All of this information is of great significance for successful operations and productivity. Typically, one of the busiest medical facilities in the local community is urgent care. With this in mind, the area should be spacious, have plenty of room for operating machinery, equipment, and ample supplies around in preparation for any emergency. A picture-perfect urgent care would be designed in a way in which everything needed for physicians and all medical staff is always at their fingertips to help patients. This paper will discuss the history and need for renovation of Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan (DHM) urgent care department, description of the urgent care, and other local facilities and services offered to the community. Also included is the URL of the chosen design to renovate: http://partner.homestyler.com/partner/toolwire/designprofile/8d1c830f-65b3-42fe-9552-fc762ed7fbc5

History of Doctors’ Hospital and Urgent Care

Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan (DHM) is considered an icon in the Pontiac community (Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan, 2010). It was Oakland County’s first hospital, named Pontiac General Hospital, which opened in 1910. It was city-owned, located at 461 W. Huron Street. The facility was later known as North Oakland Medical, which briefly closed in October of 2008 after an unfortunate bankruptcy filing. It was then renamed Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan after it was purchased by physician investors.

Today, DHM is the first physician owned and only full service, for-profit, acute care hospital. In the spirit of the original founders of over 100 years, DHM’s continues their mission to provide compassionate and high quality care to every patient served, with a commitment to health care needs to all in the community (Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan, 2010). In January, 2014, Doctors’ Hospital closed their emergency room and converted it into a 24-hour Urgent Care.

Facilities and Services Offered

The City of Pontiac, Michigan has three hospitals within a three mile radius in the community. There are two emergency departments and two other urgent care facilities close by. There are several nursing homes and rehabilitation centers located in the city. There are also a countless number of small medical offices, as well as, physician’s offices in close proximity of the hospital.

Need for Renovation

DHM’s Urgent care used to be the ER of the hospital. It is very dark with a dreary gray and orange décor in the waiting area. The walls are a dull off-white color. All individuals in the treating are able to hear one another’s conversations because of draw curtains instead of doors, which can deprive the patient of privacy and confidentiality. The sitting areas in the different pods are extremely small, so space is very limited seating for a loved ones to sit with the patient.

Urgent care facilities are very important to have in local communities because patients can get quality care at a faster rate, for lower costs than emergency rooms. Emergency rooms are the most costly type of care, for both patients and hospitals (Johnson, 2010). Every health care organization’s goal is to provide a multiple range of care for patients, while upholding customer satisfaction. Excellent customer service is essential in the health care industry. Everything needs to be strategically placed so that medical staff can provide efficient and speedy operative services. Color schemes and designs also need a consideration of the facility. The flooring has to meet a demanding fast-paced setting, offer safety, and sustain health and sanitation codes that aid and manage infection risks. Many facilities use some type of epoxy flooring for maximum results. All aspects have to be taken into consideration from paintings, seating, color scheme, stations, equipment and where it all should be located. Architecture and planning can help stimulate and promote the concept of human health and well-being (Guenther, 2008).

All hospitals are closely monitored by government agencies, so it’s vital to have mechanical systems strategically placed and functionally operable as intended. There are government rules and regulations in place to keep health care organizations compliant. If there are not followed, fines are applied. Urgent care facilities should be equipped and designed in a way so that patients are separated from those that have low immune systems or may have contagious diseases (MacStravic, 2010). It is also vital to make the privacy of the patient is upheld. Installing private rooms will help ensure doctor/patient conversations and information is not compromised.

Conclusion

In order for any health care organization to be effective, it must start from the beginning with planning a foundation. Renovations and the planning process involved must consider community needs and patients being treated. Attentiveness to space for employees, patients, equipment and supplies should always be considered. Renovators must also be cognizant of the floor plan, specifically how and where triage and nursing stations best fit. There also needs to be accommodations for patients of all ages, those who are healthy (such as a minor fracture or migraine), and of course, the ones with extreme sicknesses. A well-though floor plan should be designed in a way that is organized so that no matter the size of the facility, it will not add any more stress to patients and their families. Sometimes facilities and/or department structures can be overwhelming and disorienting (Johnson, 2010). Architecture and planning can help stimulate and promote the concept of human health and well-being (Guenther, 2008).). Considering all of the above mentioned factors will emphasize the facility’s focus on the best quality care provided to patients, as well as, loved ones.

References

Doctors’ Hospital of Michigan (2010). Retrieved from

http://www.dhofm.com/Doctors'_Hospital_of_Michigan_Homepage

Guenther, R., Vittori, G. (2008). Sustainable Health Care Architecture. Hoboken, NJ: John

Wiley & Sons

Johnson, T. (2010). How trends will affect health care facilities design and

construction. Health Care Strategic Management, 22(1), 15-7. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/226916129?accountid=35812

MacStravic, S. (2010). Better facility design leads to better health care outcomes. Health

Care Strategic Management, 23(2), 11-2. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/226934082?accountid=35812