what we think

This report

Is what MO3 thinks of…

The hospital room 2020 concept by NXT health

Because we have things to say about…

Healthcare, Architecture, Technology, Art and Science.

It really is as simple as that…

(TBH We would also like you to call)

Who? What? Why? Where? (w)How?

Is a not for profit organisation

They think about design related healthcare problems. Collaborating to innovate.

The hospital room 2020 is a concept for an improved patient environment.

It groups together several previous ideas

putting them in to an ideal plan that has now been realised as a 1:1 model.

Although very little information has been made available, this report aims to look critically at the concept.

NXT assert that the current system is inefficient.

However, also realise that the environment is complex and

restrictive.

They do what they do in order to create a platform for new ideas.

One day they hope that their ideas will be implemented.

NXT Health operate using what they call “Concept to market design”. It consists of a cradle to cradle loop of continuous development.

1. Design

Concept

2. Proving Grounds

3. Realisation

Works with interdisciplinary teams of experts to create a design concept

Establishes a proof of concept through tests and

prototypes

Refines the design through test implementations in the real world.

The concept picks up on emerging trends in the healthcare industry. As the group assessed, the industry lags behind and needs to be brought up to date.

Mainly the group has tried to:

Build community

Introduce technology

Reintroduce the clinical aesthetic

NXT Health recognises that patients like company. Although few details are given NXT health indicates an integration of social networks.

The idea was previously implemented in their integrated over bed table.

Technology in the concept is used in four main areas:

This part provides a large screen at the foot of the bed. It can be used for sharing information between the caregiver and patient. It also integrates a lot of storage and mood lighting.

The companion is an over bed table with an integrated touch tablet. It allows the patient to interact with the outside world, support networks and the screen in front of them.

It also integrates wireless charging for their personal tech and storage for their personal items.

This is a deployable workstation containing an iMac and an iPad. It allows the caregiver to work beside the patient when assessing them, cutting down on follow up paperwork and improving organisation.

The concept utilises Corian by DuPont. Although Corian is not new it deserves to be showcased in a clinical environment. • Corian is non-porous – making it more difficult for bacteria to colonise. • Corian also allows for heat moulded shapes and joins – making it possible

to have a sink without silicon sealant that can be easily disinfected.

*In a 2005 study published in the Medical Journal of America, 400 visitors to an outpatients clinic were shown a set of photos. Each set showed: • a doctor in "business" attire, wearing a smart jacket and tie, with a stethoscope • the same doctor in "professional" attire of starched white jacket, still with the shirt and tie and stethoscope • the same doctor in scrubs and trainers with a stethoscope • the same doctor in T-shirt, jeans and trainers, with stethoscope When asked who they trust on average 76% of respondents chose the professional attire of starched white jacket, followed by scrubs and business dress. The casual look attracted just 4.7% of the vote, although it scored more highly in questions that probed whether doctors looked "caring and compassionate".

Studies show that looking professional is important for doctors*. So why should the same not apply to hospitals?

Recently the most prominent trend is for hospitals to look like hotel rooms.

One problem key to hospital organisation is clutter. The 2020 concept keeps all necessary equipment and supplies inside a compact storage solution inside the patient ribbon.

Things that could make the concept better.

The key issue with the concept is that it is a heavily engineered and complex concept. While it looks deceptively simple, layers of complexity

have been added.

Working with future standards and technologies introduces risk. Healthcare organisations are risk averse and need a realistic roadmap to work to.

In creating a vision of the future NXT aims to spur advancement by suggesting what the next standard might be.

He is deeply acquainted with hospital rooms. He presents an alternative set of designs, which are used in healthcare already.

His product designs are unexciting and less than futuristic, but practical.

Michael Graves is an Architect who became a paraplegic.

One thing that Michael graves noticed about over bed tables is that the underside is often unclean.

This is because cleaning crews are less than perfect, but also because patients grab tables by the side to manoeuvre them over to themselves.

To combat this Michael Graves put a handle on one end of the table that

patients could use to move it.

In contrast, the NXT health concept actively increases surfaces, creating the following new surfaces on the PCU alone:

In between inserted tablet and casing

Screen of tablet

Table side

In between leg stem and tablet casing/table at swivel joint.

Underside of induction charging pad protruding from side.

In a recent UK study it was estimated that there was £27m worth of food wastage across the NHS in a year.

Having food on the table top restricts the use of the tablet computer on the flipside.

Additionally the idea of a flipping table does not consider the way in which tables are really used.

Typically hospitals are a place where people are ill; often this can come with a loss of appetite.

Although having these pieces of equipment to hand is useful, 72% of doctors already use tablet computers.

So why not just let them use what they have?

The system also has an unnecessary amount of extras. One such piece is the caregiver hub.

The caregiver hub integrates an iMac and iPad.

Corian is very expensive.

While the use of Corian most likely stemmed from a sponsorship of the organisation, there are alternative solid surface technologies.

However, it is likely also that Corian serves as an easy way of explaining that

solid surfaces were used and clean lines and integrated shapes can be created.

Perhaps the most contentious part of the concept is wireless charging. Currently there are three major standards for this.

Even though some phone manufacturers are making adoptions. The environment is a patchwork. Interoperability is still an issue even within a single standard.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-08-19/gm-to-offer-smartphones-wireless-charging-in-2014-cars.html

http://powerbyproxi.com/2013/06/interoperability-you-know-you-want-it/

An additional unnecessary element that could be value engineered out would be the screen at the end of the patient ribbon.

It’s purpose is to provide demonstration capabilities to the physician. This can be achieved much more cheaply than building an ecosystem.

The functionality could even be retrofitted to existing facilities.

Google chromecast is $35 It plugs in to a TV HDMI slot and communicates with mobile devices to run

applications and act as second screen.

Content can be run from both native applications loaded to the device, or HTML5 applications from the cloud using the DIAL protocol.

The ability to run cloud applications is important for cost reduction.

Applications can be written in HTML5 meaning that one application could be written to run as a native application via the browser of any phone or PC that

supports the standard.

Ultimately what NXT health has presented is positive.

While there are issues with design, the good of producing a forward thinking concept, to inform development in

hospitals, surely outweighs these.

However, the most disappointing element is surely that most suggestions can be achieved now with minimal expenditure

on the part of hospitals.

Contact: Dan Winkler MO3 Consulting 1A Duke Street, London, W1U 3EB 07912275066 Daniel@mo3-consulting.com www.mo3-consulting.com