Both the integrity of the healing professions and the safety of our patients hinge on our ability to identify and overcome barriers to effective, error-free care delivery. These barriers are not due to the lack of a sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic armamentarium.

Rather, the true challenge faced when designing hospitals of the future lies in studying and improving the manner in which we utilize and implement medical knowledge and technology.

In this article we have reviewed emerging concepts from the fields of health care delivery science, ergonomics, cognitive science, informatics, and system engineering (Table 2). We have suggested how these concepts may be utilized to develop next generation acute care environments.

The key characteristic of these environments will be the support of patient-centered rather than provider-centered care delivery. In other words, the provision of safe, effective, error-free, and compassionate care to acutely ill or injured patients.

Complexity, human factors, cultural barriers, and the inertia inherent in established structures and processes will make the task of constructing that environment far from easy.

However, we have no doubt that change is coming and will gain momentum quickly once the first steps are taken.

Read More