Simulation-based clinical systems testing for healthcare spaces: from intake through implementation.

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Nora Colman, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; Cara Doughty, Baylor College of Medicine; Jennifer Arnold, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital; Kimberly Stone, Seattle Children's Hospital and University of Washington School of Medicine; Jennifer Reid, Seattle Children's Hospital and University of Washington School of Medicine; Ashley Dalpiaz, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; Kiran Hebbar, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-08-02
• Publisher: BMC (part of Springer Nature)
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2019
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s41077-019-0108-7
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Advances in Simulation
• ISSN: 2059-0628
• Volume: 4
• Issue: 19
• Start Page: 19
• End Page: 19
• Grant/Funding Information: No funding was provided for this project.
• Keywords: Healthcare design; Patient Safety; Latent safety threats; FMEA
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery; Health Sciences, Health Care Management

Abstract

Healthcare systems are urged to build facilities that support safe and efficient delivery of care. Literature demonstrates that the built environment impacts patient safety. Design decisions made early in the planning process may introduce flaws into the system, known as latent safety threats (LSTs). Simulation-based clinical systems testing (SbCST) has successfully been incorporated in the post-construction evaluation process in order to identify LSTs prior to patient exposure and promote preparedness, easing the transition into newly built facilities. As the application of simulation in healthcare extends into the realm of process and systems testing, there is a need for a standardized approach by which to conduct SbCST in order to effectively evaluate newly built healthcare facilities. This paper describes a systemic approach by which to conduct SbCST and provides documentation and evaluation tools in order to develop, implement, and evaluate a newly built environment to identify LSTs and system inefficiencies prior to patient exposure.