Join HKS at the 2024 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo
Health design industry professionals will gather October 5-8 in Indianapolis, Indiana, for the 2024 Healthcare Design Conference + Expo (HCD) to explore how design impacts the safety, operation, clinical outcomes and financial success of health facilities.
Two HKS-designed projects — UW Health Eastpark Medical Center in Madison, Wisconsin, and Memorial Cancer Institute in Pembroke Pines, Florida – will be recognized at the conference as Healthcare Design Showcase Finalists, among the best health design and architecture projects in the industry.
In addition, HKS Medical Planner Kaitlyn Badlato will be celebrated on-stage during the conference as part of Healthcare Design magazine’s Rising Stars program, which recognizes the outstanding achievements of professionals who have worked in health design fewer than 10 years and demonstrate a deep commitment to the industry.
The conference will also feature several presentations by HKS researchers, designers and partners.
HKS invites HCD 2024 attendees to visit our industry thought leaders at Booth GW11 on the Expo floor and join us at the following conference sessions.
Elevating Cancer Treatment with Proton Therapy: Journey of Designing for the First Upright Proton Therapy Unit
Sunday, October 6, 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. ET
Speakers: Amy Kerkman, Senior Project Manager, HKS; Parsa Aghaei, Design Professional II, HKS; Mike McKay Director, Planning Design Construction and Real Estate, UW Health; Tom Casselden, Global Head of Order Fulfillment & European Head of Supply Chain, Leo Cancer Care
This case study delves into the intricacies of coordinating a multinational effort for the design of a groundbreaking upright proton therapy treatment unit. Proton therapy is an optimized cancer treatment method utilizing complex machinery to generate proton beams that is traditionally administered to patients in a prone position. The new equipment at UW Health offers patients the option of receiving treatment in an upright position, presenting them with several benefits. This session shares the challenges and solutions encountered in harmonizing equipment, architecture and planning across seven companies in three countries. Presenters will explore the systematic approach to user group consultation, iterative design processes and the synthesis of international insights.
Optimizing Emergency Care: Smart Strategies for Affordable, Compact and High-Performance Low Acuity Treatment Stations in the ED
Sunday, October 6, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. ET
Speakers: Colby Dearman, Studio Practice Leader, Health HKS; Ethan Hopkins, Job Captain, HKS; Sandra McDonald Director of Hospital Safety and Emergency Preparedness, University of Florida Health Jacksonville; Ashley Norse, Associate Chair Operations for Emergency Medicine and Medical Director for the Emergency Department, Trauma Center and Observation Unit for the Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida Health Jacksonville
Emergency department (ED) leaders and healthcare providers continually face the challenge of efficiently managing patient flow and providing timely care. Healthcare architects and planners, understanding the unique needs of each ED project, aim to address these challenges through innovative design solutions. A recent development, the incorporation of Low Acuity Patient Treatment Stations (LATS) as outlined in 2022 by the Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI), offers a significant opportunity to enhance ED functionality. This presentation will explore crucial considerations in designing, planning and implementing LATS in the ED. Drawing insights from recent projects and industry best practices, speakers will demonstrate how integrating these specialized treatment stations for low-acuity patients can streamline processes, reduce wait times and optimize staffing resources.
Blueprint for Mitigating Nurse Burnout: A Social Listening Perspective
Sunday, October 6, 3:15 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. ET
Speakers: Deborah Wingler, Global Practice Director, Applied Research, HKS, CADRE; Michelle Ossmann, Director, Health Research & Insights, MillerKnoll; Rutali Joshi, Senior Design Researcher, Health, HKS, CADRE; Ed Hunt, Graduate Researcher, HKS, CADRE, UT Austin
In an era where more than half of nurses are considering leaving clinical practice, the implications of nurse burnout to our health system are far-reaching. Nurses have not been silent about this problem, taking to social media to amplify the real issues surrounding the nursing shortage, including the systemic factors contributing to extreme burnout within the nursing profession. Using natural language processing to examine over 18,000 subreddit comments, this study illuminates a crucial, yet poorly understood, aspect of nurse burnout: the impact of the physical health care environment. The machine learning model and coding are undergirded by a full literature review, and the results triangulated with nurse focus groups. This research strategy uncovered the intricate relationship between nurse burnout and environmental factors such as layout, ergonomics, sensory elements, restorative spaces and facility upkeep. Participate in this pivotal and engaging conversation as we discuss bridging the gap between research and practical application in health care design, crafting spaces with the potential to nurture those at the very heart of patient care.
Tiny Humans, Big Impacts | Design & Operational Impacts of a Hybrid Rooming Model
Monday, October 7, 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. ET
Speakers: Caitlin Potter, Senior Medical Planner, HKS; Rachel Khan, Executive Director of Nursing for Women’s and Children’s Services, Wellstar Health System; James Roberts, Vice President, Program Management, Meadows & Ohly; Colby Dearman, Studio Practice Leader, Health, HKS
Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) serve some of the most fragile hospital patients who have unique needs to support healthy development and stabilization. More than any other department in the hospital, these NICU inpatient units have undergone significant planning and operational shifts. This transformation stems from new, ever-evolving research focusing on the distinct requirements of these tiny neonates and their families. Architecturally, this has created a pendulum swing from the fully open “baby wards” of the 1980s and 1990s to the private single-family rooms we predominantly see today. However, new neonatology research is suggesting that there should not be a one-size-fits-all approach. Studies have shown that different departmental planning typologies have a direct impact on family experience/perception, infection control, airborne transmitted infections, staffing considerations and acoustics, as well as families’ desire for socialization, privacy and normalcy. This presentation will explore these questions through the examination of case studies, current research findings, surveys from both family and staff, plus spatial analytics, to suggest which planning models best align with various patient populations.
IIDA Panel – Beating Healthcare Burnout: Harnessing Design for Staff Health and Well-being
Monday, October 7, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Panelists include: Diana Araoz-Fraser, Studio Design Leader, Interiors, HKS
In recent years, workplaces have changed dramatically, and the healthcare space is no different. The industry is facing a shortage of healthcare providers, and at the same time, the U.S. population is aging – advanced, reliable healthcare will soon be needed more than ever. Just as healthcare spaces treat patients, they must also cater to provider and staff well-being. Design is crucial to keeping healthcare providers focused and comfortable. Acoustics and air quality, artwork and ergonomics: all details matter in keeping staff healthy, balanced and ready to provide excellent care.
MD Anderson Cancer Center: Transforming the Outpatient Oncology Environment
Monday, October 7, 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. ET
Speakers: Bhargav Goswami, Director of Facilities Planning Services, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Samir Patel, Associate Vice President, Clinical Infrastructure Development, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; Richard Rucksdashel, Studio Practice Leader, Health, HKS; Nupur Gupta, Vice President, Senior Medical Planner, HKS
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is embarking on a transformative journey towards a new era of outpatient cancer care. Various outpatient projects are underway, reshaping the cancer care services for patients within the Texas Medical Center and regional community locations known as Houston Area Locations (HAL). In this session, speakers will delve into the clinical and institutional drivers that are pushing these projects forward. These drivers inform the design and planning of outpatient centers, aligning with MD Anderson’s dedication to providing state-of-the-art cancer care centers. This session will draw insights from MD Anderson’s past and ongoing projects, providing tangible examples and lessons learned. The discussion will shed light on the methodologies, strategies and collaborative efforts driving the success of these projects, ultimately shaping the future of outpatient cancer care at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Advancing Healthcare Environments: Integrating Spatial Analytics and Comfort Analysis for Optimal Clinic Layouts
Monday, October 7, 3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. ET
Speakers: Mindy Goodroe, Studio Practice Leader, Health, HKS; Jenel Wisdom, Sr. Manager of Clinic Operations & Projects, Orthopedics, Sports & Spine, Emory Healthcare; Nikola Gjurchinoski, Architect, Research, HKS
The study to be shared utilizes advanced spatial analytics to benchmark clinic layout typologies, focusing on metrics like travel distances, visibility and physical comfort. The tools and methodologies applied have broad applications across clinical layouts. The session will delve into how these influence operational efficiency and satisfaction by exploring the strategic placement of care team workstations, waiting areas and programmatic elements. Detailed visibility and travel distance analyses offer insights into design impact on patient monitoring, staff communication and workflow optimization. Post-occupancy assessments of Emory Healthcare Clinics, including Emory Musculoskeletal Institute in Brookhaven, Ga., highlight ideal clinical configuration. From waiting areas to examination rooms, the tools enable a granular examination of physical layouts and workflow processes. This analysis informs Emory Healthcare’s decisions on spatial design, resource allocation and workflow optimization, enhancing patient care. Beyond spatial analytics, the study analyzes acoustics, daylighting and other physical comfort metrics. The session offers a holistic understanding of clinic performance, quantifying visibility, travel distances and environmental factors.
Transforming the Safety Net Hospital: Building Community Through Design
Tuesday, October 8, 8:15 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. ET
Speakers: Deborah Wingler, Global Practice Director, Applied Research, HKS; Sahira Abdool, Principal & Chief Administrative Officer, PPG Global; Jason Fleming, Office Design Leader, HKS
As part of our country’s safety net, LBJ Hospital in Harris County, Texas, serves some of the nation’s most underserved, vulnerable communities. These communities have faced historic discrimination, disproportional exposure to environmental hazards, and long-standing health disparities, causing residents to mistrust the system and its providers. In this session, attendees will hear how the 1.2 million-square-foot tower expansion at LBJ Hospital in Houston is being leveraged to rebuild the community. The team will share how a robust community engagement process, including bus tours and town halls, has helped foster trust and build consensus within the community. Attendees will also hear about a rigorous experience strategy effort that engaged patients, families and staff in the design process to ensure the design of the new facility meaningfully improves the patient and staff experience and positively impacts the community. Insights from a deep dive exploration into the existing Level III trauma center, which helped bridge evidence with empathy, will also be shared. Hear from global community engagement experts, patient and family advocates, designers and visionary leaders from across the health system on what it takes to transform the community by honoring the voices of the people they serve.