Dunedin Hospital Design Lab concept to expand across country

NEWS  - eHealthNews editor Rebecca McBeth

The Digital Health Design Lab concept used to test and refine technology introduced into the New Dunedin Hospital’s Outpatients Building will be used at other major hospital developments across the country.

This prototype lab allowed technologies and tools to be tested in a real-world environment with input from staff, consumers, disability advocates and community representatives before the building opened.

Phil King, Health New Zealand group manager for digital facilities delivery, says the prototype lab concept has been included in the planning and associated budgets for major hospital build projects such as Nelson and Whangārei .

He explains that traditionally, digital services networks can only be established in new builds once communications rooms have been built. Once this is complete, all technologies can be tested in an integrated environment. 

“The prototype lab concept significantly reduces the risk to the critical path of the build by enabling all technologies to be tested in an integrated environment well ahead of the communications rooms becoming available,” he says. 

“Additionally, the lab provides an ideal hands-on environment for staff representatives and user groups to get acquainted with the new technologies.  This enables staff to consider new ways of working and helps shape the digital design.”

Health NZ says the experience gained through the design, standards and implementation approach has also informed governance structures and digital standards for Nelson and Whangārei hospital redevelopments. 

New Dunedin Hospital Digital Director Phil Baskerville says several of the tools they have introduced in Dunedin and tested in the Design Lab are new to New Zealand hospitals.

Patients can receive appointment confirmations, reminders and building information digitally. On arrival, they can choose to check in at an accessible self-service kiosk or with a receptionist.  

Digital maps can guide people to clinic rooms, waiting areas and amenities, while screens in waiting areas provide updates using non-identifying numbers assigned at check-in.

Disability advocate, wheelchair user, and access consultant John Marrable says the project team’s willingness to listen and make changes throughout testing impressed him.

“The concept is fantastic. What impressed me most was that the team listened to feedback and made improvements along the way. They adjusted things like font sizes, screen positioning and glare based on what testers told them,” he says.

The newly opened outpatient building is also the first health facility in the South Island to introduce Omnicell Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADCs).

These provide secure, computer-controlled storage and supply of medications and controlled drugs at the point of care, enabling real-time tracking of medicines, improving inventory management, and reducing waste.

Hear more from Phil Baskerville at the Digital Health Week Conference this Nov 18-19 in Auckland. Check out the programme and register here.

If you would like to provide feedback on this news story, please contact the editor Rebecca McBeth.

You’ve read this article for free, but good journalism takes time and resource to produce. Please consider supporting eHealthNews by becoming a member of HiNZ, for just $17 a month.

Read more National Systems & Strategy news

Return to eHealthNews.nz home page