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In The News |
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The Headwall as a Design Feature
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Headwall Design NOTES
User Centric/Clinical:
The headwall delivers the essential medical services and must promote user centric features in the bedside zone.
These features include:
> Ergonomic access to the electrical outlets and medical gases
> Clear and flexible access to monitors, pumps and charting stations
> Space to easily add and take away equipment
> Two way communication
> Provide a place to store specific clinical products unique to the patient during the duration of their stay
 The Headwall can be a Resource:
A user centric headwall serves as a systematic pipe line, connecting medical services and equipment in the caregiving space to the patient, it closes the loop between the clinical staff and the patient. As the patient’s acuity increases the clinical staff must be at bedside more often and for longer periods of time, the headwall must adapt with the patient to provide more resources as they are needed. The adapting headwall with changing forms of function can be a resource to help make nursing tasks more efficient, effective, safe, and positive for both patients and staff.
Adapting Headwall Design Features:
> More medical gases and electrical outlets readily available
> More IT and data ports to add more forms of technology such as monitors and pumps
> More space to store extra equipment on the headwall
> More build in storage to reduce hunting and gathering for supplies as the patients acuity changes
When designing custom headwalls it is important to understand that what is important to one nurse in the ER is not as important to another nurse in a Med-Surge room. Connecting with each user in each area of the hospital at the most practical level is the best way to identify what the user needs within their headwall to make it a true resource. Through several discussions with an MSC design team, together we will answer questions such as “Who are the users?” “What are your final goals?” and “How can we improve and change your current situation?” Through brainstorming and resolving issues together, MSC will begin to take steps toward creating your ideal headwall.
 Aesthetic Feature:
Modular Services Company can unite clinical functionality to a headwall that is aesthetically pleasing and telling. Aesthetics is important in the patient room. It is important to have a well designed room that promotes healing in the patient environment.
MSC headwalls contribute to that healing environment by providing hospitals and designers with a headwall that can incorporate a myriad of laminate and paint color choices, decorative panels and accent trim. Along with these color choices MSC designs and custom designs headwalls that bring important industrial design features to the headwalls and thus to the healing environment. These features might include concealment of clinical clutter in the family zone or using light in the headwall as a design feature to sooth the patient and thus taking their attention away from more institutional features in the headwall. Using the headwall as a design feature can enhance the bedside environment.
Other Aesthetic Headwall Notes:
> Think about positioning the majority of the more institutional looking items in the headwall out of sight of the patient and visiting family
> Make the focal point of the headwall a piece of art or art glass
> Utilize materials and design patterns more commonly seen in hospitality design or retail stores
> Use light as a design feature |
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