From the front lines

A Six Part Series from the front lines of COVID-19

 
Our healthcare design team has learned a few things about healthcare delivery over the course of practicing healthcare architecture for over 25 years. The COVID-19 pandemic has created the need to step back and re-evaluate the process of healthcare delivery.

This evaluation begins by learning from our clients and contacts working on the front lines of the pandemic. Over the past several weeks, we have been collecting lessons learned and now wish to share these in a weekly series, Design Thinking: Interviews from the Front Lines of COVID-19.

This evaluation begins by learning from our clients and contacts working on the front lines of the pandemic. Over the past several weeks, we have been collecting lessons learned and now wish to share these in a weekly series, Design Thinking: Interviews from the Front Lines of COVID-19.

We launched this series three weeks ago with our interview of Steven Friedman, PE, Facility Director at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. Mr. Friedman was a principal consultant on the conversion of the Javits Center to a temporary medical facility. His insight and knowledge were particularly timely as both the federal and state governments were contemplating these type projects in Arkansas, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

As our discussions with other hospital and healthcare officials have continued, we’ve learned that as COVID-19 has placed unique stress on our healthcare system, hospital teams have found ways to evolve and adapt patient treatment and care, staffing, supply chains, patient flow, equipment planning, telehealth, infrastructure, and master planning.

We are thankful for all clinical staff and facility teams moving forward through the long hours in an ever-changing climate. Healthcare teams around the world have come together like never before. And while this pandemic is highlighting weaknesses in the system, our shared knowledge will allow us to emerge stronger.

In the words of Steve Jobs, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” Our calling is to ensure healthcare design works – no matter the challenges.

Click here for the the full COVID Design Thinking-Oklahoma Interview