Aalborg University Hospital is the largest hospital in the North Denmark Region. It provides highly specialized regional functions for about 640,000 people and regional functions for about 490,000 people.
The hospital’s emergency department (ED) treats patients of all ages with a variety of injuries. It recently focused on improving patient experience in the blue track of the ED which handles patients with minor injuries, like simple fractures and small cuts.
The old ED room
Aalborg and Philips consultants worked to create a new concept for an ED suite that would reduce the stress experienced by young patients, in particular, and their family. Other key targets were reducing waiting times and improving patient and staff satisfaction
The Philips team created a unique and immersive new concept for a pilot suite in the ED using Philips Healthcare Experience Solutions. The comforting ED suite that was implemented aims to improve the patient experience and workflow for clinical staff. Most staff feel they can give patients a better experience and that patients are calmer in the new ED room. The majority of patients surveyed feel a high degree of safety and satisfaction in the new ED room compared to the old ED rooms.
It is cozy and de-stressing. Patients seem calmer and can more easily be distracted in this room.”
ED Staff member
Philips healthcare consulting experts work closely with key stakeholders to understand the clinical, functional and emotional needs of a patient population. Design thinking in healthcare is then applied to transform the patient experience.
The new design concept: Different themes are displayed in front of the patient in the comforting ED suite to distract them when waiting.
At Aalborg University Hospital, the comforting ED suite incorporates innovative elements for improving patient experience and enhancing the clinical process:
Staff and patients were surveyed to gather feedback on the new ED room compared to other rooms in the blue track. The staff survey reported that more than 90% of the staff indicate that they can give patients a better experience in the new room. The patient survey reported that 73% of the patients in the Ambient ED indicated to feel a high degree of satisfaction with the level of comfort, as compared to 33% of patients in the control rooms.
The new ED room
Egil V. Nilsen
Principal Consultant, Nordics region
