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Abstract Background A simple but countable electronic device has been developed to gain reliable information on elderly patients' perceived well-being. The device has been tested and proven to be technically functional and countable. It was now tested in two care homes for the elderly and two private homes to evaluate if it provided solid information about the well-being of elderly persons. This report illustrates the practical usage of the device and shows its efficiency in gathering solid well-being information from the focus group. Methods The test arrangement was carried out by assigning a group of volunteers (n = 10) in care homes for the elderly for two weeks. The time period was long enough to collect a sufficient amount of information to evaluate the perceived well-being of the test subjects. Perceived well-being was assessed by using a Con-Dis device and by filling out an attached questionnaire - RAI - at the same time. RAI consisted of questions concerning mood, pain and quality of life. A standardised RAVA questionnaire with 12 questions concerning test subject's health was also answered once during the two-week time period by each test subject. After the test period the data obtained by Con-Dis was compared with the findings collected using questionnaires. Results A statistically significant correlation was found between perceived well-being (measured by Con-Dis) and questionnaire-based mood (r = 0,66, Pearson Correlation Coefficient) and quality of life (r = 0,68). No statistically significant correlation was found between perceived well-being and pain (r = 0,28). Technical functionality and feasibility of Con-Dis were good during the test period. Some problems arose because the test subjects were elderly and some in poor physical condition. Conclusion On the basis of the collected results, the Con-Dis device presented information on the test subjects' perceived well-being that appeared to correlate with certain aspects of their health status. The test subjects' mood and quality of life but not pain had a statistically significant association with the perceived well-being level measured by Con-Dis.

Healthcare (HC) providers are expected to enhance their work efficiency, while resources for HC remain scarce. In order to accomplish this, efficient work environments must be developed. Although not yet a common practice in today's hospitals, participatory design is a useful tool for improving HC facility design (FD). Thematic interviews were used as a study method. Employees from two Finnish central hospitals (n = 14) were interviewed. The interviews were carried out among, for example, hospital and project managers, facility designers and hospital user group representatives. The interviews revealed that participatory design can improve several aspects of FD, such as staff satisfaction, trust and teamwork. Clarifying reasons behind the decision-making process and instilling cohesion among the FD participants seemed beneficial. The hospital units that had systematically listened to the users and involved them in the decision-making process had also gained the users' commitment and encountered little resistance. The challenges associated with participatory design included, for example, guiding the employees to project-based FD, utilizing users' know-how, getting everyone involved, and eliminating silo mentality. Several similarities were found in the participatory FD processes in the two target hospitals. The users of hospital facilities provide an important resource for designing new hospitals. The two study target hospitals had significantly benefited from using participatory design in their FD projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare (HC) environments demand high-quality design in order to provide efficient care processes for those in need. In this study, we aimed to determine changes in the target hospital's (H1) operative processes undergoing relocation. The goal was also to illustrate the shift in treatment paradigm from bedside care to extended day surgery, and the burden in terms of bedside places and anesthesia and surgery processes. Value stream mapping has been utilized to assess both the hospital work environment and work process design. The significant improvements in H1 process design include improved treatment planning, minimization of patient stay at the hospital, centralization of patient care and focus on Lean thinking. The value stream maps created in 2016 appeared more complicated compared to those composed in 2013. Several reasons may explain the complexity of the value stream maps: Surgical care has gained new alternative treatment options, patient pre-evaluation is carried out comprehensively before the surgery and phone contacts, local municipality research resources are utilized, anesthesia evaluation is carried out systematically and patients' diseases are optimized to fit the surgery schedule. We argue that in a HC context, more complex value stream maps may not always be inferior compared to simpler ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports that since 1991, Enterococcus faecium have been listed as the second leading nosocomial pathogen and are among the five most common causative agents of bloodstream infections.The issue of the emergence of Enterococcus faecium as a significant clinical problem at an adult haematology ward is discussed.

Facility design related to rapidly changing healthcare (HC) processes is in dire need of new innovations. Due to an ongoing nationwide HC reform in Finland, five University Hospitals among other central hospitals are forced to find ways to carry out competitive HC design practices in order to maintain efficient work environments and processes. This article illustrates a brief overview of Kuopio University Hospital's (KUH's) design development concept. The researchers reviewed and evaluated all the major facility design projects being carried out at KUH during the past five years. KUH aspires to continuously learn in order to stay effective and improve as a major player in Finnish HC. Creative thinking and openness to new, state-of-the-art solutions have enabled gradual development in the facility design process. Emphasis on participatory design approach, change management and evidence-based design has proven to be beneficial as well. Furthermore, integrating operational design as a main part of the facility design process should pay dividends in the near future. This article brings forth a HC design concept from one of the leading hospitals among Finnish HC. The article sheds light on the methods crucial to KUH for continuous improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]