Co-design in healthcare stands as a cornerstone in the delivery of facilities that are not just functional, but safe and truly therapeutic. Yet, amidst this widespread recognition, numerous misconceptions persist, leading to missed opportunities throughout the design process.
The critical components of the Model of Care, Key Stakeholder Mapping and Engagement, and the management of Project User Groups hold the power to either propel a project toward success or impede its progress. It begs the question: why do we consistently segregate these crucial elements in the Facility Planning Process?
Here are some of our insights to elevate your next co-design activity:
Empower stakeholders: Create a culture where stakeholders are active participants, fostering collaboration and inclusion to ensure diverse perspectives shape the design process effectively - bring the right people along the journey if you want the design to suit the operations and services. Remember, co-design is about everyone having equal input.
Use flexible engagement strategies: Implement methods that accommodate various schedules and working patterns. We need to engage with clients at times that suit their service, not ours. Some industries have night and weekend shifts – engage them during their working hours, ensuring they can contribute meaningfully.
Establish an iterative feedback loop: Continuously gather feedback throughout the project lifecycle, not just at key milestones, allowing emerging insights and priorities to be considered and incorporated into design plans.
Integrate strategic directives: Ensure alignment with broader strategic objectives set by government departments and private partners, integrating them seamlessly into the co-design process from the outset - source information from the vertical and horizontal environment (government, private, NGOs, peers, supporting departments, agencies and more, as appropriate.)
Prioritise frontline perspectives: Actively seek input from the staff who deliver the services, recognising their invaluable insights and experiences to create facilities that truly meet the needs of those delivering care on the ground - adapt your services to wrap around and support these stakeholders and consider what a day in their lives looks like.
Facilitate and educate: Ensure user group participants understand relevant guidelines and policy directives - users may not fully comprehend the functions of the Australasian Health Facility Guidelines (AusHFG). Provide education and a point of contact to ensure clients are able to provide feedback that aligns with what is achievable within the guidelines.
So, what's the takeaway? BFK & Associates co-design is where innovation meets efficiency, and where every stakeholder's voice matters. It's not just about facilities; it's about shaping experiences.
Ready to reshape the future of facility design? Let's explore how BFK & Associates can tailor our co-design methodology to elevate your facility design.
Your voice, your ideas - let's make them part of the design evolution. Join the conversation at LinkedIn here.