Meet Healthcare Design’s Breaking Through Finalist – SmithGroup, Who Used Existing Infrastructure to Solve A Problem In Healthcare

Meet Healthcare Design’s Breaking Through finalist, SmithGroup, who used existing infrastructure to solve a problem in healthcare. Breaking Through 2020 is a conceptual design competition focused on imagination and innovation. As part of the 2020 HCD Virtual event, Healthcare Design hosted the second installment of its Breaking Through conceptual design competition, which encourages innovation by asking participants to solve challenges anticipated in the future delivery of healthcare without the usual restrictions tied to the budget, schedule, and codes. (source)

Charged with solving a challenge anticipated in the future of care delivery—and forgetting traditional restrictions to innovation like codes, budgets, and schedules—the SmithGroup, offered a 10-minute, visually rich presentation detailing their concept Fare2Care for the keynote session audience.

About Fare2Care

Concept

Fare2Care

Firm 

SmithGroup

Team Representatives

Y Pham, interior designer; Kenta Kamei, architectural and urban designer; Satish Atkari, associate, architectural designer; TJ Howells, architectural designer; and Stephen Parker, architect and planner

The Challenge

Many Americans forego primary care because of how inconvenient it is, thanks to long waits, frequent cancellations, and time away from work. Additionally, individuals living in economically stressed urban areas might be more than 5 miles away from the nearest clinic or health center, with densely populated areas suffering from higher rates of disease and premature death from preventable conditions.

The Concept

Fare2Care ideates “care cars” that can attach to public trains in any city across the 8,000 miles of metro rails in the U.S. Patients would visit the care cars to access primary care during their regular commutes, a solution to provide healthcare services where people are. The cars are integrated with technology to streamline the experience and offer a comprehensive telehealth experience, unless immediate intervention is required.

The Details 

Using San Francisco’s BART system as an example, about 600 primary care modules could be accommodated on its fleet, resulting in 12,000 appointments available each day in addition to the ability to conduct mass health screenings, vaccinations, etc. The Fare2Care system could even detect elevated temperatures of patients inside a transit station and send alerts to seek care.

In fact, it’s that type of technology integration that fuels the solution, including an app that patients would use to book appointments, look up data on previous visits, or see an upcoming care car schedule. Notifications remind patients of appointments, with smart sign systems within stations guiding you on where to go. Internal technology in the cars themselves provide a screening system and three layers of security, while solutions like UVC light and HEPA filtration, as well as automated cleaning systems, address infection control. (source)

Marie Wikoff is the creator of Wikoff Design Studio based out of Reno, Nevada. Her expertise in healthcare design has helped modernize healthcare organizations locally, regionally, and internationally, improving patient experience and outcomes. Her credentials include Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC), American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID), the National Council of Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) and LEED AP. Contact Marie Wikoff