Does Healthcare Need A Shot Of Design Thinking?

Watching the US healthcare forum yesterday reinforced the scale of the problem surrounding the current system. UK design firm Priestmangoode have begun issuing a series of manifestos examining the way design thinking could be employed to improve products and services. Their first, right on que, is dedicated to health service.

The design team identified Ten Radical Rules for Better Healthcare based on learnings from their experience working on projects for the airline and hotel industries. These include creating privacy for every patient, improving information systems for patients and families, and creating smarter more multifunctional spaces to improve efficiency and foster a higher quality of service. They’ve integrated these ten rules into a concept for a recovery lounge for patients needing only day surgery or a short-term stay at a hospital. The lounge aims to take some strain off the wait for a regular hospital bed.

The Recovery Lounge adapts to the needs of patients in a number of ways for their comfort. The beds offer three positions (lie-flat, relaxed, and upright) that patents can choose with the touch of a button. Each Lounge is a rolling module that when staggered offers each patient privacy and the nursing staff can have a clear line of site to all patients. Each patient also has easy access to their own internet/entertainment screen and publications.

Cost savings is gained because each Lounge is manufactured off site and essentially rolled into a hospital with little on-site construction. Since very little of the Lounge touches the floor, cleaning around them is more efficient and more sanitary.

You can read the 13 page Health Manifesto pdf here.

[via dezeen]