Clinical Processes Informing the Design of the Emergency Department

This article examines the relationships between event planning and determination of functional and physical requirements for a healthcare facility – a new emergency department (ED) for Halifax Medical Center. Based on clinical processes, functional and operational goals of the project were established and projected workload, practice trends, and strategic directives of the institution were developed. The method for conducting this research was a highly participatory process.

Results of this research are an ED design that provided the greatest degree of flexibility and adaptability possible, not only for the fluctuation in patient census, increased satisfaction for the ED patient and staff, but for future changes in technology and clinical practice.

keywords: event planning, guiding principles, acuity adaptable universal rooms, modular approach