A Room of One's Own: An Innovative Model for Patient-Centered Surgical Care

In recent years there has been a dramatic shift in surgery departments from inpatient to outpatient procedures. The Department of Surgical Services at the Children's Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, has experienced this change with an increased overall volume of 32 percent since the last department renovation in 1989. A team of architects, consultants, and hospital staff was formed to investigate the possibilities for improvement. It was determined, after a preliminary analysis of the spatial requirements, that a new model of care would be a solution for the renovated suite. The single room model became the desired spatial model for the renovated suite floor plan. The opportunity to test early space planning solutions arose during the design process. Design issues such as wayfinding, lighting, and color selection were addressed with the patients and parents in mind. The single room model is proving to be successful on many levels at this facility.