When the Patient Care Centre (PCC) at the Royal Jubilee Hospital opened in March 2011, patients began receiving care in an environment purposely designed for safety. The PCC design includes:
- 83% single-patient rooms with private bathrooms
- handrails and mobility aids throughout
- improved infection control
- increased visibility from nursing work areas
- room for families to stay overnight when appropriate
Reducing Infections
The PCC helps reduce the risk of spreading infections with:
- 89 handwashing sinks within every 36-bed unit
- dedicated handwashing sinks in every patient room
- the evalution of all surfaces to measure how easily they can be cleaned
- state-of-the-art ventilation systems
- 100 % fresh air
- the ability to isolate at the room, half unit or floor level
- electronically locked soiled-linen rooms to prevent accidental exposure to toxins
More Face-to-FaceTime
One of the best ways to improve patient safety is to increase face-to-face time between care providers, patients and their families. To help patients see their care providers more, the PCC will has:
- a ‘hub and spoke’ configuration, which clusters bedrooms around supplies and work areas
- beds positioned in a way that lets patients see the doorway easily
- standardized configurations for supplies, medications and bedrooms, ensuring staff always know where to find necessary items during regular care and emergency situations
Using Technology Wisely
The PCC makes the most of space and technology for safer care during shift-to-shift reports and patient rounds.
An electronic health record is available for secure access anywhere within the PCC. This electronic system provides access to information at the point of care and during decision-making moments.
"Smart beds" connected to a network allow staff to be connected to every bedroom at every moment.
Connecting with Nature
The PCC makes it easy for patients and families to take advantage of nature’s healing elements. It features:
- large, opening windows in every patient room
- a mental health park
- a heritage garden
- outside spaces for physical therapy
Abundant natural light, intuitive passage throughout the building and sound-absorbing surfaces also create the ideal stress-free atmosphere for healing.
Leaders in Design
The PCC project is one of only fifty institutions to partner in a progressive international research initiative known as the Pebble Project.