Putting Ideas Into Action

Stephanie Pielich and Sarah Stevens attended a Healthcare Symposium in Nashville last month. Building on last year’s discussions around access, community, and technology, this year’s event focused on turning those conversations into action—a theme encapsulated by the acronym “ACT.” (While we think it was really just an acronym to get us to remember the conference, it does help thinking about how important it is to put items we learn into action.)

While much of the dialogue centered on how large hospital systems address these issues, Stephanie and Sarah found valuable lessons for our rural hospital clients. Rural healthcare environments often see access and community as fundamental needs, while adopting cutting-edge technology tends to progress more gradually. Here’s how we plan to integrate these insights into our future projects:

A Holistic View of Patient Care

Rural hospitals often serve as the heartbeat of their communities—sometimes the largest employer and even a gathering spot, like being the best place for Sunday lunch. They understand the importance of being more than just a place for medical treatment. We learned the importance of listening to the functional medical needs noted by staff and the “fringe” needs of local residents that might be overlooked. By listening to all the needs, spoken and unspoken, and encouraging open discussions on sensitive issues, our designs will focus on creating safe, secure, and comfortable spaces.

Strengthening Patient Connections

Rural facilities excel at connecting patients with the resources they need. While concerns like free parking dominate discussions in urban settings, rural hospitals are more focused on being a community resource. We’ll continue prioritizing this connectivity in our designs, ensuring our buildings support these vital community links.

Emphasizing Flexibility in Design

Flexibility has always been a cornerstone of our approach, but the symposium reinforced its importance. With technology evolving rapidly, it’s crucial that buildings can adapt to new demands. By designing flexible spaces, we aim to optimize staff efficiency and increase staff satisfaction so that they can enhance the patient experience.

At JJCA, we’re committed to learning from these insights and actively incorporating them into the spaces we create. For us, healthcare design is about more than just buildings; it’s about improving lives.