We live in a constantly changing world, and innovation is what drives that change. Having an innovative mindset is not just a skill but a force that helps us rethink what we consider possible. In this context, architecture, a blend of creativity and functionality, becomes an exciting ground for creativity and originality.

Innovation is not just about introducing new technologies or materials; it’s also about how we conceive, design, and experience our environment. Thinking innovatively in architecture also involves challenging established ideas, accepting a variety of perspectives, and overcoming traditional norms.

In this article, we will share how we have used clinical simulation and its methodology to design a hospital room’s bed headboard integrated into a single piece of furniture.

The Issue to Solve 

We started with the need to transform the perception of a technical and cold environment to create a more welcoming atmosphere in vulnerable situations, such as hospitalization.

When a person is admitted and hospitalized for a certain period, the room temporarily becomes their home (and that of their family). This is where those responsible for design have the opportunity to create better spaces that respond to both functional needs and the comfort requirements of the occupants.

Various studies, such as J. Dubose’s “Exploring Healing Spaces” (2018) [1], show the clear relationship between a well-built environment and patient recovery. In literal terms, “the environment cannot cause healing to occur, but it can facilitate engagement in behaviors and emotions that support it; the environment can induce physical and emotional responses such as happiness, joy, and relaxation; and the built environment can enhance control and individual functionalities, all of which are antecedents to improvement.”

That’s why, in the process of designing and creating spaces with a focus on the needs, experiences, and well-being of the people who will inhabit or use them, we have chosen to create an environment far from the idea of a “medicalized setting,” not only for the hospitalized person but also for their companions and healthcare staff.

What is Clinical Simulation?

To carry out our design, we have used clinical simulation (CS), a methodology that facilitates the reproduction of real situations in the healthcare field to practice, learn, evaluate, test, and understand both systems and human actions.

This practice, which has evolved over time, has become a highly versatile tool in the health field, used for various purposes, including training in clinical decision-making, improving communication skills, strengthening teamwork, performing technical procedures, and redesigning care issues [2].

Advantages of Clinical Simulation

Some of the advantages we have found during simulation include the flexibility to repeat the technique as needed and at the chosen time, the ability to simulate clinical situations to their final consequences without risk to real people, the opportunity to exchange views among those involved, learning from mistakes, observing these mistakes to generate constructive feedback, facilitating immediate feedback or debriefing, identifying errors, reflecting, and correcting in the prototype, among others [3].

Why Did We Take That Concept and Apply it to Architecture? What is the Use of Clinical Simulation in Architecture?

When time constraints prevent conducting research in a neuroscience applied to architecture laboratory [4] and literature review does not provide relevant data on technical issues in our discipline, or when economic resources are limited, we consider that resorting to previously validated methodologies and adapting them to other areas can be an effective solution to collect data and advance the analysis of a specific topic.

In our experience, simulation has proven to be a valuable tool for understanding movements, operations, and the frequency of button activations, among other aspects, before actual implementation in environments with patients, a moment in which there is no room to go back. This approach has allowed us to overcome time and resource constraints, facilitating the collection of crucial data to deepen our understanding of our research topic.

Work Methodology

In our initial approach, we set out to address a specific issue related to the well-being of hospitalized individuals, their families, and healthcare personnel. The design we were developing aimed to facilitate the care process in the unit and improve perceived quality. We aimed to create an effective environment where the admitted person could feel at home, experiencing tranquility, security, and visual comfort.

To support our design, we conducted a thorough literature review, studying backgrounds and analyzing inpatient units in different hospitals. Through this process, we faced hypotheses, evaluated methods, and studied results. Subsequently, we incorporated technical issues, such as the height of power outlets, the location of medical gases, and space for pump placement, to create the first draft.

Once the initial approximation was complete, we built the first full-scale prototype in our studio. We set up the “set” and moved the prototype to a pediatric room at the Hospital Universitari de la Vall d´Hebron with standard measurements. In that space, we simulated various situations that could arise during hospitalization, collecting data through surveys, photographic records, focus groups, and other resources.

Throughout the process, we involved different relevant people and adjusted the prototype on-site. We gathered all possible information, and back in the studio, we refined the prototype. We meticulously documented each adjustment, and with positive feedback from both patients and healthcare personnel, we successfully replicated the design in other hospital units, such as pediatric palliative care, surgical blocks, and maternity wards.

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References 

[1] DuBose, J., MacAllister, L., Hadi, K., & Sakallaris, B. (2018). Exploring the concept of healing spaces. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 11(1), 43-56.

[2] León-Castelao, E., & Maestre, J. M. (2019). Prebriefing en simulación clínica: análisis del concepto y terminología en castellano. Educación Médica, 20(4), 238-248.

[3] León-Castelao, E., & Maestre, J. M. (2019). Prebriefing en simulación clínica: análisis del concepto y terminología en castellano. Educación Médica, 20(4), 238-248.

[4] Ahead Barcelona Healthcare Architecture (2024). Acercarse a la neuroarquitectura.