A hospital for the future - Health City

---

Planning and designing a hospital in 2015 to serve its community well into the future can be a challenge for organisations, writes Jacqueline Hayes. Mater Private Hospital Springfield is nearing completion of Stage One of its brand-new health precinct.

---

Queensland’s Mater Health Services is meeting the growing healthcare needs of the booming population of Springfield between Brisbane and Ipswich by building Mater Private Hospital Springfield (MPHS) and has a master plan for the hospital precinct within Health City Springfield Central, which incorporates a number of expansion stages to be rolled out to meet the demands of the region.
Construction of Stage One, an 80-bed hospital started in April 2014 is scheduled for completion by December this year.
Director Mater Private Hospital Springfield Fritha Mackay believes stage one is an exciting chapter in Springfield’s history.
“Patients requiring treatment, especially cancer treatment, will be able to stay close to home instead of travelling to the city,” Ms Mackay said.
“Illness requiring ongoing treatment can be immensely stressful for the patient and their loved ones as it disrupts daily routines. Something close to home will hopefully be one less thing to worry about.
“Our initial elective surgical and cancer services are laying a foundation for broader service areas to be incorporated in the future.
“We are committed to progressing Stage Two of the hospital to meet a predicted shortfall in patient beds for the region,” she said.
Watpac is the principal contractor on the $85 million project. Approximately 8.7 hectares of Health City has been allocated for hospital and healthcare developments with pre-planning approval obtained for up to 1200 hospital beds.
The Mater Cancer Care Centre will be built with $21.4 million dollars of Australian Government Funding. In partnership with Radiation Oncology Queensland, the Centre will include one linear accelerator (initially) and 15 medical oncology treatment bays to offer a supportive and positive environment for patients and loved ones.
Significant planning has been done to ensure greater patient comfort and the streamlining of check in procedures.
The interior design was finalised as a result of a consumer engagement process. More than 100 people visited two prototype rooms replicating a patient ward and cancer care treatment pod. Useful feedback was provided on the layout, design and décor of the rooms.
Customised Services for Modern Lives
“Enhancing that care and welfare with modern techniques and technology is what we are working on,” said Ms Mackay.
“Room service will be rolled out from opening at Springfield after its success at Mater Private Hospital Brisbane.”
“The room service menu is comprehensive and offers patients delicious meal options that cater to every taste, and are clinically suitable to meet individual dietary requirements,” she said.
Mater Private Hospital Brisbane is the first private hospital in Australia to offer hotellike room service to patients. Meals are freshly prepared, ordered at the patient’s convenience (between allocated times) and delivered directly to the patient’s room within 45 minutes.
The innovative room service initiative has been recognised by the Private Hospitals Association of Queensland (PHAQ) for significantly lowering food wastage and improving patient outcomes.
Ms Mackay explains another first: family members will also be able to sleep in patient rooms.
“It’s not just children and babies who need someone close by when you require treatment,” she said.
“Just having someone there can boost your confidence or provide that extra reassurance you might need.”
Comfortable fold-away beds are in well-designed cupboards in all rooms.
Flexible visiting hours will also be in place when the hospital opens.
“Life doesn’t happen within the strict 9-5 routine anymore,” Ms Mackay said.
“No set visiting hours means families and friends will be able to have greater access to patients when it suits them,” she said.
Also gone are the days when patients complain about the temperature in their rooms. Integrated Room Controls (IRC) mean patients can adjust not only their air conditioning, but blinds and lighting.
“Being a patient is a very vulnerable position to be in,” Ms Mackay said.
“The main purpose of IRC is to enhance the inpatient experience and allow patients to co-manage their environment,” she said. “Research shows that the more the patient feels in control, the more positive their health outcomes.”
Integrated Room Controls (IRC) manage:
General lighting within the room including the above bed down light, ensuite and reading lights all with dimming abilities.
Air conditioning temperature control warmer or cooler from a set point.
Motorised window blinds with one block out and one shade blind per room that are able to be operated independently of each other.
The system will be controlled by simple switch panels located at the entrance to the room and beside the bed. These panels will illuminate when a hand comes close and allow patients and staff to easily change the room conditions without having to turn on the lights.
“This is a truly innovative system which can also be controlled from patient’s own smart devices like tablets and smart phones commonly known as bring your own device (BYOD),” she said.
Innovative technology extends to nursing staff as well. The selected Nurse Call system extends beyond the traditional call bell system. This system will offer the capability to streamline workflows and automate business processes by routing the calls to the right clinical staff and in turn improving response times.
Nurses will also carry an automated nurse presence and real time location services (RTLS) tag. This tag will alert nursing staff when a patient activates the nurse call function and tells them which patient room has activated the request. When nursing staff wearing the RTLS badges enter the patient’s room the system will automatically cancel the Nurse Call request. At the same time the corresponding corridor light will illuminate to indicate the nurse has responded and is present in the room.
This technology will leverage off and utilise the high destiny wireless network that will be in place at MPHS. The technology, when implemented, will open the way for further innovation both within Stage 1 and future stages.
The future health of the Springfield region is in good hands with continuous and innovative planning supporting a responsive patient care model.

---

“We are committed to progressing Stage Two of the hospital to meet a predicted shortfall in patient beds for the region”

---

Stage one of Mater Private Hospital Springfield will provide:

• Four theatres, two inpatient wards, and medical imaging services


• a Mater Cancer Care Centre including one linear accelerator and 15 medical oncology treatment bays in partnership with Radiation Oncology Queensland


• treatment for 4,800 local public patients each year