Denise Silber (Digital Hospital News): G + G
architects have been working with LHSC for 10 years, converting it into
a « digital hospital », which goes well beyond the electronic medical
record system. Please tell us more.
Dipesh Patel (G+G): The
backbone of a digital hospital is of course the electronic patient
record system, but, there are many other components : diagnostic
imaging, hybrid operating theatres, in patient smart rooms, modular
out-patient care, wellness centers, digitally-managed inventory and
waste control….
All of these are impacting the physical
lay-out of the hospital. Digital imaging requires larger, networked
imaging rooms. Clinical practices require larger working spaces, so as
to perform certain procedures without moving the patient. The growth of
minimally-invasive surgery is increasing out-patient surgery. Single
rooms provide for better control of infection.
Telemedicine enables the hospital to complement its expertise beyond
its walls. Power management and redundant systems become essential.
Files no longer occupy space in the hospital itself. So, change
management of the IT systems is intimately linked to the architecture
itself.
As digital designers we bring a multi-disciplinary approach, combining
knowledge of physical architecture and the emerging information
technologies.
DS: What is on the horizon for G+G?
DP: Well,
of course we'll always be active in Canada, because hospitals are
lifetime projects, but we are also extending our activty to Europe. I'd
say we are currently reviewing our next "lifetime partners" in other
countries. Technology is always changing faster than can we design it.
So when we meet up with a new hospital client, we know we'll be
evolving together over the years, and it's a big mutual commitment.
That's what we love about the business of hospital design, not to
mention the better quality of care we help make possible!
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