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Freestanding Emergency Departments – A New Trend
One of the newest programs and building types being developed within the healthcare industry is the freestanding emergency department (FSED).
These projects are growing in popularity as hospitals and healthcare systems strategize ways to provide improved, responsive care in the most cost-effective physical environment possible.
An FSED is not an urgent care center, which is normally based upon primary care models and often utilized for after-hours, non-emergent care. Rather, an FSED is an extension of a hospital and provides emergent care on a 24/7 basis, and many states require that they be owned and managed by a hospital or healthcare system.
As an extension of a hospital, the FSED is expected to provide care with direct, on-site access to all services needed for emergent care that are normally found within a hospital, such as lab, imaging, and pharmacy.
To that end, designing a FSED can be a welcome challenge. The designs are built around the goal of creating positive experiences for patients, family, and staff. The layout must be inviting, stress relieving, uplifting, and functional. Below are some of the new design trends for the Free Standing Emergency Departments.
Many facilities now include greeter desks with web-based check-in.
Staff-supervised lounges where patients and family can await diagnostic results
Private consultation rooms utilized for quick discharge, education, payment, and follow-up scheduling
bedside computers for real-time imaging review, patient education, and electronic medical records.
Overall, the design focus is two fold. Hospitality-based environments with comfortable seating, natural light, and views to the outside provide patients and family support and relief during an often stressful encounter. And, staff spaces designed to provide collaboration areas, quiet work zones, and dedicated respite regions away from the hectic emergency care environment, all helping with initial staff recruitment and long-term retention.
Source: http://www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/article/freestanding-eds-new-hospital-front-door
