May 4, 2023 – The last few years have not been kind to the health and well-being of healthcare workers in the U.S. Indeed, the COVID-19 pandemic has put extreme stress on the healthcare workforce in the U.S., leading to workforce shortages as well as increased healthcare worker burnout, exhaustion and trauma, according to an issue brief from the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Office of Health Policy, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Kurt Forsthoefel, director of marketing, Midmark Medical, believes better clinical design can play a key role in building a stronger healthcare system and healthier workplace for our nation’s caregivers. In a blog post on the subject, Forsthoefel wrote that it’s important to not overlook the role clinical design can play in helping non-acute facilities reduce burnout and retain healthcare professionals. “Especially how equipment design, workflows and technologies used in this environment can help create a more positive point of care experience for caregivers.”
Forsthoefel listed several examples:
- Exam rooms configured and designed to improve standardization, enhance patient-caregiver interaction and accommodate needed equipment and supplies at the point of care. The exam room should also provide adequate space for caregivers to easily move about or remain seated to minimize unnecessary straining and increase comfort.
- Exam chairs that are fully adjustable to prevent caregivers from having to overreach, twist or bend their back or torso too much during exams, and can lower to a height that allows patients to transfer onto and off of the chair without being lifted by a caregiver.
- Vital signs acquisition devices bring automation to the vital signs workflow to help ensure a higher level of standardization and minimize human variables, while also auto-connecting with a computer using zero clicks to import data directly into the EMR and eliminate manual transcription errors.
- Cabinetry that is designed for average-height healthcare workers, enabling caregivers to easily reach frequently accessed supplies without unnecessary bending, stretching or constant overreaching.
- Mobile workstations that can support the needs of nearly all users in the clinical space, allowing them to work from an ergonomically correct position whether seated or standing as to not cause unnecessary strain on the caregiver›s back, shoulder and neck.
- Wearable locator badges equipped with a call button that helps improve worker safety by enabling healthcare workers to request immediate help and providing security officials with the worker’s name and location so they can respond in a timely manner.
“As these examples illustrate, clinical design has become a strategic component at the point of care, helping healthcare organizations place staff well-being and satisfaction at the same level of importance as clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, efficiency and profitability,” he said. “Whether it’s equipment that feature ergonomic principles, technology that offers safety and less clicks or room configurations that deliver standardization and increased efficiency, the end result is a better care experience for caregivers.”
Read more in the latest issue of Repertoire Magazine.