Designing a Flexible Emergency Department

The Problem

To maintain their position and grow their competitive market share, this client needed a new Emergency Department. The original department was disjointed, undersized and unsafe for modern care, future volumes and projected acuity levels. The design needed to address current and future capacity needs via throughput efficiencies gained from operational changes that were decided during the master planning process. Catalyst, having previously completed the master plan, was able to maintain the integrity of previously made decisions and provide guidance during the design process.

The Approach

Catalyst’s planning team developed consensus among the variety of ED staff. By overlaying process mapping for patient and staff flow with the proposed departmental layout, Catalyst discussed and confirmed the future of ED operations in the new facility. By obtaining sign-off at milestones in the design process, Catalyst developed champions with accountability for decisions made and future implementation of these efforts. Dashboards were developed to show capacity increases that occur when operational efficiencies are gained through design and workflow improvements.

The Solution

At the completion of the engagement, Catalyst delivered an operational-based design with key operatives for implementation of the new processes and subsequent facility implications. The design provided capacity through flexible use of universal treatment spaces. While zoned for acuity levels, the layout of the department is flexible to accordion up or down as volumes and acuity levels vary throughout the year and into the projected future.