
Akron Children’s Hospital’s NICU team began its final design kaizen with an approach that could be compared to “speed dating.”
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Akron Children’s Hospital’s NICU team began its final design kaizen with an approach that could be compared to “speed dating.”
As Akron Children’s Hospital moves forward with its $200 million campus expansion, a crystal ball would come in handy. With healthcare reform, changing demographics, and other uncertainties, our goal is to build flexibility into our design in every way possible. We can make educated guesses regarding future patient volumes and acuity, reimbursement levels, the always-changing technology and best practices for care, but they are just that – educated guesses.

A 15-month-old lies in an ER trauma room after being transported by EMS from an adult hospital. Lab results indicate possible kidney failure. A 6-month-old suffering seizures is being treated in an ER patient room. A baby has been found not breathing in a bassinette by a babysitter and has been brought to the ER [...]

Jordan and I attended the mock-up of Akron Children’s new neonatal intensive care unit. To be honest I wasn’t sure what to expect. In fact I should have prepared ourselves for a longer stay with more snacks and distractions for the little man.

As Akron Children’s Hospital moves forward with its plans to build a $200 million critical care tower, teams continue to meet, brainstorm and test out architectural designs in a true-to-scale setting in weeklong Kaizens. Kaizen is a Lean term that refers to improving processes continually by making incremental changes.

It’s 3 a.m. in the ER when the call comes in. There’s been a car accident. A 16-year-old boy – unrestrained and the driver – is being life-flighted. He is in respiratory distress and has head injuries. His 10-year-old brother and front-seat passenger is coming by ambulance. His injuries, neck pain and an obvious deformity to the lower body, appear less serious.