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HKS, Inc. completes Ohio medical facility where healthcare meets hospitality
The goal of this 144 bed hospital was to connect with its community while breaking down the barriers of traditional hospitals into one less institutional. Infusing hospitality into the design allowed the team to transform the traditional paradigm of 'patient focused care' into one of 'guest focused care' - where the focus is on the human experience. Balancing form and function, the two come together in harmony, creating an environment where people are brought together to work, live and heal. The sweeping entry engages visitors and patients, welcoming them into a sunlit lobby and connecting them with nature.
Using ‘embedded’ way-finding, all departments were organised to be accessed within 90’ of the front door, with clear views to outside along all public corridors and waiting areas. These expansive views help bring the outside indoors, relaxing patients at arrival, where studies have shown patients with lower stress can heal up to 40% faster. The guest experience, clinical functionality and best practice drove the design and planning. Going a step further than separating front and back of house, the facility was one of the first to incorporate lean principles as it broke the traditional department boundaries for improved patient safety and staff wellness.
The first two floors are organised into invasive and non-invasive floors. Among the benefits, is a consolidated prep and recovery serving surgery, endo, and cath providing an ideal continuum of care. The project was honoured with an un-built award from Modern Healthcare (2008) for its innovative planning and design. Now completed it realises a vision for viewing patients as guests to be treated, instead of patients to be processed, and thus has allowed Ahuja Medical Center to be a hospitality focused healing environment. It is also the first healthcare project in the country to obtain LEED Silver under NC 2009.
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