Participation in the design of endoscopic operating theatres in the Netherlands

Abstract

Specialised medical workplaces such as dedicated endoscopy operating theatres are complex and so is the design process. Our goal is to deliver guidance for the design of dedicated endoscopic operating rooms by means of a participatory design approach. Currently, in the Netherlands, the design process of these workplaces is done by teams of stakeholders, supported by construction companies and vendors. Unfortunately, disappointment regarding the final design outcome is common. We conducted a number of interviews with stakeholders and a workshop to investigate the reasons for the disappointment. First studies indicate that the main reasons are (1) an absence of a future vision in the hospital, (2) a lack of genuine participation in the design process, (3) limited insight of stakeholders who participate in a planning team into the consequences of decisions and (4) limited use of the knowledge and information in hospitals available.

User involvement in design of a safety-critical operating panel system

“…Similar issues are found in the pre-hospital context (e.g., ambulance personnel and firefighters), that is, gaining the user perspective is challenging when the operations cut across "regional boundaries" and many levels of organizations, marked by the functional diversity of the user groups (Mogensen & Wollsen, 2014). Another issue that according to Garde (Garde & van der Voort, 2010) may hinder involving relevant users in design is that for medical specialists the patient care always comes first, and it may be difficult to organize time for innovative activities.…”

“…Not all seafarers may be able to read technical drawings and comment on them, and not all highly specialized design engineers are able to understand and emphasize the problems and challenges faced in everyday ship operation. With respect to designing in a hospital context, Garde and van der Voort (Garde & van der Voort, 2010) point out that one critical factor for successful outcomes in operating theaters is the communication between the hospital and the system vendors. Similarly, Johannessen at al.…”

“…In a study about the design of an endoscopic operating theater, Garde and van der Voor (Garde & van der Voort, 2010) discovered that the lack of expert participation was due to the medical specialists' patient care comes first and they rarely have time for innovative activities. For this reason, Garde and van der Voor (Garde & van der Voort, 2010) emphasize that participation needs to be supplemented by a transparent and well-structured decision model that enables efficient decision-making in the design project.…”

“…Garde et al (Garde & van der Voort, 2010) have been studying the design of endoscopic operating rooms by means of a participatory design. According to them, the current practice is that team of stakeholders, supported by construction companies and vendors, design and carry out the operating theater development projects.…”

“…According to them, the current practice is that team of stakeholders, supported by construction companies and vendors, design and carry out the operating theater development projects. However, Garde et al (Garde & van der Voort, 2010) remark that disappointment regarding the final design solution is common, even though a sort of participatory design process (albeit a rudimentary one) is in place. According to the authors, the different stakeholders commonly think that all operating theaters can be alike and surgical procedures can be performed in any operating theater.…”