Glastonbury, CT – The S/L/A/M Collaborative, a certified member of the Planetree Visionary Design Network, recently announced its continuation as a recognized leader in the design of patient-centered and healing healthcare environments. During Planetree’s recent Annual Conference that took place October 30 – November 2nd, SLAM exhibited and presented a case study Transformation of Patient, Visitor and Staff Experience at Danbury Hospital through the Physical Environment that described the transformational process (both physical and culturally) of a project that will add over 300,000 square feet of new construction to Danbury Hospital’s existing campus. Additionally, SLAM also joined Northern Westchester Hospital in their receipt of Planetree’s Large Project Spirit Award for the design of The Mary & David Boies Emergency Department which recently opened in March 2011.
“It was wonderful to represent the SLAM Collaborative, alongside the team from Northern Westchester Hospital to receive this award,” stated Kathy L. Bell, AIA, ACHA, the planner for the project. “We are extremely proud of this project and the exemplary commitment by all staff at NWH to the Planetree Model of Care.”
For the architecture and interior design of the Mary and David Boies Emergency Department, Northern Westchester Hospital received the Spirit of Planetree Award in the Healing Environment Category on November 3rd 2011.
The new Mary & David Boies Emergency Department at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, NY opened in March 2011 and features state-of-the-art technology and clinical expertise in a truly patient and family-centered environment. According to Maria Hale, Vice President, Patient Advocacy and Service Excellence at NWH, “the new ED, referred to by many as the Planetree ED, will better enable our growing community to experience the excellent care provided by our staff.”
The project represents a new level of integration between innovative ED planning and patient-centered care. From planning to completion, the ED was thoughtfully designed by the SLAM Collaborative to embrace the tenants of the Planetree Philosophy in a manner befitting the hospital’s designation as a Planetree Hospital. With efficient patient flow and effective distribution of staff resources in mind, the new ED is organized around a pattern of “streets and avenues” that support optimal access, privacy, and comfort to both staff and caregivers. The design includes an Adult Avenue for adult emergencies; a Pediatric Avenue for children and adolescents; a Fast Track Avenue for non-emergent cases; a Behavioral Health Suite for psychiatric care; and a Central Block that maximizes collaboration and unifies the entire emergency department. Additional features include universal private rooms with defined family spaces, and generous windows throughout the facility that provide daylight infused spaces and views to private perimeter gardens. The result is a well-planned, efficient, and state-of-the-art facility that accommodates all of the technical demands required of a modern and active ED while simultaneously encompassing the healing spirit and benefits of Planetree design and patient-centered care.
The NWH Emergency Department (ED) cared for approximately 28,000 patients in 2010 and demand for these services continues to grow at a very rapid pace
