Applying Evidence-Based Design at the New Parkland Hospital

"The new hospital will be a safe, welcoming, patient-centered healing environment that serves as a sustainable community resource for Dallas County. It will promote excellence in clinical care, teaching, and research in a technologically advanced, easily accessible environment.”

With this guiding principle top-of-mind at all times, the design team for the new Parkland Hospital in Dallas set to work to design a hospital for the future. Acknowledging the link between the physical environment and patient and staff outcomes, the design team implemented an evidence-based design (EBD) strategy to translate the project vision into a meaningful and financially sound design and construction plan.

The Center for Health Design (CHD) defines evidence-based design as “the process of basing decisions about the built environment on credible research to achieve the best possible outcomes.” Currently, more than 1,200 research studies suggest healthcare design can improve patient care and medical outcomes, decrease medical errors and waste, and increase patient and staff satisfaction. As a result, the Parkland team recognized that an exceptional healing environment is one that embraces patients, visitors, and staff while supporting them during the time they are in the facility.

To successfully implement EBD principles, the Parkland design team sought to create an environment of care that incorporates streamlined processes, new technologies, and nurturing design elements. A visioning session was held involving all stakeholders in the project to identify proven strategies that would: 

•             Improve patient safety;

•             Improve patient outcomes;

•             Increase patient, family, and staff satisfaction;

•             Improve efficiency and effectiveness of staff; and

•             Accommodate today’s best practices, with flexibility to adapt to the future. 

Below are the specific EBD principles that have been identified for the new Parkland Hospital, along with their corresponding design interventions. 

Improve patient safety

To reduce patient falls and injuries, slip-resistant flooring is being specified, especially in patient bathrooms, which are large and ADA compliant. Walk-in showers do not have curbs, which might cause a patient to stumble. Clear paths to restrooms and night lights in patient rooms and bathrooms decrease opportunities for falls. Additionally, patient lifts are provided in many rooms to assist caregivers when moving patients.

All patient rooms at Parkland are private, which helps to reduce the risk of hospital-acquired nosocomial infections. Highly visible and ample hand sanitizers are being placed throughout the facility. In addition, a caregiver sink is being provided at the entrance to each room. The use of HEPA filtration systems in patient rooms, emergency exam rooms, and other zones will help protect the most vulnerable patients. Antimicrobial flooring and fabrics reduce the spread of germs. 

Improve patient outcomes