model emergency department

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--- Jarek <jarekgucwa at gmail.com wrote:
I am looking for any data suggesting model architecture and equipment for
emergency department for not very busy county hospital (around 100
admissions per day, 2-3 cardiac arrests, 1 trauma case in critical
condition/day
--- end of quote ---

I highly recommend the Freeman White Architural Firm in Charlotte, NC <www.freemanwhite.com>.  They have a team specializing in ED construction which includes ED nurses.  They start by modeling the current processes and flow in your department, make suggestions on how things can be streamlined, involve key ED "customers" such as consulting and ancillary services, and then design the department to match your needs and wants.

They designed our current department about 6 years ago and, while no place is perfect, I think they did a fabulous job.  Most of our glitches came when the plans were handed off to the local architects and construction folks who made some changes and decisions without consulting us.

Other than that, my most important pieces of advice are 
1) Everything will seem smaller once you move in so plan as big as they'll let you
2) You can never have enough storage space for large pieces of equipment like crash carts, fluid warmers, ventilators, etc.
3) The devil is in the details -- don't assume anything will go as planned.  Find the most OCD person you can to oversee the project

Good luck!

Jean Proehl, RN, MN, CEN, CCRN, FAEN
Emergency Clinical Nurse Specialist | Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center | Lebanon, NH 03756 | 603-650-6049 
Editor, Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal | www.AENJournal.com

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