Unlocking New Possibilities in Healthcare Design: Reflections from the Healthcare Design Conference + Expo

Whether we’re clinicians, designers, business owners, or architects, we share a common goal: to create environments that improve the experiences of patients, caregivers, and staff. NIHD member Lily Man, RN, MN, LSSBB reflects on her experience at Healthcare Design Conference + Expo.

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NIHD is your TRUSTED PARTNER.

Even before serving on the board, NIHD President Kris Krail would describe NIHD as her tribe, her club, her circle of friends in the field. She realizes now that she was describing her trusted partner.  So, as your trusted partner, let us evolve and grow together in this amazing field of healthcare design where we believe we can shape the future of healthcare design though engaging and raising the clinical voice.

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Lessons Learned on Publishing Your First Book

In 2019, the Yellow Brick team identified a gap in information related to the Transition and Activation of new healthcare facilities and spaces. They challenged themselves to fill this gap by writing a guide that could be leveraged by those tasked with the responsibility of leading a new facility activation project.

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Educating Clinical Leaders at the Design Table: 3 Key Points to Start the Design Phase.

As a bedside nurse and nurse leader, Kaycee was an alien on a strange land in a healthcare design role about 7 years ago.  Even after being a nurse manager on a previous new floor project, she didn’t know what was her role was, how hard she should advocate for operational flow and what change orders did late in the project. In her new role, NIHD member Kaycee Shiskowsky has learned to integrate a focus on schedule, budget and clinical operational flow.

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Crafting Comfort: Designing Cancer Center Infusion Spaces to Care for Patients Throughout Their Journey.

Designing an ideal cancer center infusion space requires a thoughtful approach that addresses the complex and varied needs of patients. Cancer treatment, particularly chemotherapy infusions, can be a lengthy and emotionally exhausting process for patients and their families. Therefore, creating an environment that offers privacy, fosters a sense of community, and facilitates intimate family conversations is paramount.

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Is “empathy” the new buzzword in healthcare design?

The idea of empathy in healthcare design and the people involved in that work are important. NIHD President, Kris Krail, suggests the best and easiest way to really get at that would be to involve nurses and other care providers in the process.  Clinicians need to be full members of the design team and well represented in all user groups.

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Celebrating Nurses: The Heart of Healthcare Design.

“Nurses Make the Difference,” is this year’s National Nurse’s week theme. This year’s theme resonates deeply as healthcare design is more than just aesthetics; it’s about creating spaces that nurture healing, support efficiency, and enhance the overall patient experience. By actively engaging nurses in the design process, healthcare facilities can create workflows and environments that are functional and conducive to delivering excellent care.

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The Quest for Common Ground in Rural and Urban Development: Key Takeaways from the See Change Sessions

See Change Sessions is the collision of unconventional networking and collaboration by labs (workshops) and in-the-moment speaker topics to facilitate change across six different priority, themed areas – Where We Live; Beyond the Stars; Turning the Tide; Breaking the Buzzword; Cultures in Conversation; and Harmony & Dissonance.

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Collaboration Spaces for Healthcare Teams

During my time as a bedside nurse I recall thinking that teamwork and communication came naturally by just working well with other care team members, and that the patients would naturally benefit from this.   But as I began transitioning my career to patient safety and quality of care through improving teamwork and communication I then realized that there are enablers and barriers to teamwork in the very unit and care areas we work in. 

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2024: Finding Purpose in our Community.

2024 will be a challenging year for our healthcare professions and industry, to say nothing about our society, country, and world. Let us together find purpose in our community with one another and in our collective vision to shape the future of healthcare through the engagement and integration of the clinical voice in the planning and design of healthcare environments. 

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The Case for Creating Intentional, High Performing Project Teams

A high performing team is a group of people who share a common vision, goals, and values, and who collaborate effectively to achieve exceptional results. A high performing team is not just a collection of individuals who happen to work together, but rather an intentional, cohesive unit that leverages the strengths and skills of each member.

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Sustainability and Climate Change Take Center Stage at Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo

That wraps up another eventful and successful Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo. For those of us familiar with attending and presenting at conferences, there is often a key takeaway about what trends those working in the sector should be planning for. Climate Change and Sustainability was undoubtedly the biggest takeaway from this year's conference…

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Using Full-Scale Simulations in a Mock-Up Space During the Design Process.

Using mock-ups during the design development phase of a project provides a unique opportunity to allow frontline staff to envision their future space and move through it according to their anticipated workflows. Read this blog contribution by NIHD Board member Lynn Aguilera, D.M., MSNEd, RN, PMP, EDAC.

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Tech and Consumer Navigation in Healthcare.

When most people think about Tech in Healthcare, their minds naturally go the big 4: Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft.  Many people think about these companies and their focus on data, AI algorithms, health data being collected at the personal device level, and many other “techie” types of impacts.  However, there is a whole other side of how tech is impacting and influencing the way consumers use and access healthcare services across the spectrum. Read the latest blog contribution by NIHD President Anthony Mistretta RN, MS EDAC, Lean Black Belt.

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Generations of Healthcare MacGyvers: An Interview with Architect and Healthcare Designer on Rural Health.

An interview on rural health by Pamela Jones, RN, MSN, MS, FACHE, EDAC with NIHD member Val Williams AIA, Senior Healthcare Planner Senior Associate at Page. Read on to learn how nurses and designers can contribute.

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Meet the Nurses in Design at Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS).

Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS) is a very fortunate organization.  They not only have one nurse as a part of their design team efforts … but TWO highly talented and experienced nurses!  NIHD members Tara and Mary have collectively been a part of the NGHS system for over 75 years!  Like many others in NIHD, their current roles never existed, until through their involvement in projects and operational improvements. 

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