Swiss Center for Design and Health: “There is added value in significantly improving the quality of the built environment”

Ms Afzali, the Swiss Center for Design and Health (SCDH) is an important centre at the intersection of design and health, the only one of its kind in the world. How did it come into being?

The SCDH emerged from an interdisciplinary research group at Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). In 2007, we began looking at issues in the healthcare sector from the perspectives of design and care.

The group grew rapidly and we realised an increasing number of research projects as well as collaboration requests from the field. In 2018, the idea for a national centre of excellence in the field of design and health was born, funded by the Confederation and the Canton of Bern.

Interdisciplinary collaboration appears to be a core element of your work. In real life, however, this kind of approach often runs into a lot of obstacles. How does the SCDH manage it?

One outstanding example is our collaboration with Bülach Hospital. They asked us to evaluate the plans for a new outpatient centre and a new hospital building.

In our Living Lab, we project the floor plans of the planned rooms in their original size and construct them three-dimensionally. Working with architects, medical and nursing staff and other experts, we run through various scenarios to test the practicality of the designs.

What steps does a simulation like that involve?

First of all, we develop a script in consultation with the practice partners that describes typical processes in the rooms, such as a patient’s journey from reception to the operating theatre. We then play out these scenarios in our replica rooms.

All those involved, from surgeons to nursing staff, assume their roles. During these simulations, we observe the entire process based on predefined criteria, make a note of difficulties and finally ask for feedback. An important aspect of this is that the participants have to think out loud. This enables us to better understand where there are challenges.

That sounds exciting, but what does it mean in concrete terms for planning? What added value do you generate through this?

Here is a brief example from practice: our simulations revealed that the visibility of the scrub-up area in the operating theatre needed optimising.

Originally, the washbasin for the surgeons was placed behind a wall out of the operating theatre team’s field of vision. In the simulation, however, it turned out that it would be helpful if the team could see the surgeons while they were preparing for the operation – as a non-verbal signal that the procedure was about to begin. This feedback led directly to the plans being modified.

This shows how important it is to involve users at an early stage. What are the advantages for the client?

There is added value in significantly improving the quality of the built environment. By involving users – i.e. doctors, carers and other professionals – in the planning process early on, we can ensure that the buildings and rooms meet their needs as fully as possible.

This reduces costs in the long term, because it avoids expensive rectification work. At the same time, the safety and satisfaction of patients and staff are enhanced.

Besides hospitals, you also focus on future-oriented topics such as ‘remote care’. What is meant by that?

Remote care is a very exciting field that has become increasingly important in recent years. At one of our symposiums, we explored the question of how telemedicine and the associated technology can change healthcare.

In our simulations, we investigated how the room design affects the interaction between patients and doctors when they are not physically present but are only connected via screens.

Such experiments help us to better understand the challenges and opportunities of new care models and to develop solutions that work in practice.

So the SCDH not only wants to improve the status quo, but also actively shape the future of healthcare. What are your long-term goals?

Our goal is to pursue further research into the influence of design and architecture on health and thereby make a contribution to improving hospital new-builds and refurbishments. This can take place with research partners from the universities, but also in collaboration with practice partners in the context of commissioned work.

We would also like to expand our expertise into other fields. For example, we are keen to invest in the design of healthy workplaces and schools, with a view to creating environments that promote wellbeing. Another focus is on the development of new technologies and processes that enable patient-centred care, both in hospitals and in the home environment.