The ambitions are high – including in the field of occupational health and safety. Occupational health consultant Jens Sonne shares his visions for the new University Hospital in Skejby, which will be operational in ten years.
— A workplace for 10,000 people, consisting of 13,000 rooms spread across 240,000 m2, is quite a challenge. Moreover, it is an environment where technological advancements are rapidly evolving, emphasizes Jens Sonne, and continues:
— We are planning a hospital that will be operational in ten years and function for 40 years. While we cannot predict the future, we are committed to gathering existing knowledge. Therefore, we are collecting the experience we already have and seeking inspiration from international research and visits to hospitals around the world. Contributing to the creation of the new University Hospital Skejby is an exciting task, he says.
According to Jens Sonne, the planning process is well underway and occupational health and safety play a crucial role in this regard. One of the main goals is to create a conducive environment that ensures high patient safety and a positive work atmosphere.
— We aim to optimize our workforce through improved workflows and the creation of a modern and attractive workplace. In other words, we strive for a good occupational health and safety environment, and to achieve this, we take into account the processes and tasks involved, he elaborates.
Aims to create a conducive working environment
Occupational health encompasses all the factors that influence us while we are working, and the very word itself defines the purpose of our presence in the workplace, explains Jens Sonne.
— We divide occupational health into different areas: psychological, chemical, biological, physical, and ergonomic. The most tangible aspects, such as access routes, lighting conditions, and noise, are the easiest to address. It is more challenging to work with the psychological aspect of occupational health. I prefer to avoid using terms like well-being because it is about how we interact with each other and the tasks we have committed to. In this context, psychological occupational health is more appropriate. Therefore, my goal with the new University Hospital Skejby is to contribute to creating physical environments that support good occupational health based on the tasks performed, he says.
Designing across professional groups
Through dialogue with users from the region, Jens Sonne maps out the processes and tasks involved in each type of room, ranging from utility rooms, patient wards, and secretary offices to operating rooms and examination rooms.
— Our guiding principle is to create a flexible layout that is applicable across professional groups. There will be standard rooms that can be utilized by multiple professional groups, as well as unique rooms that are specialized. Above all, we strive for flexible solutions that can accommodate individual needs. I draw upon my extensive experience in occupational health from Aarhus Municipal Hospital and my network in the Central Denmark Region, which has traditionally had significant experience with occupational health work, he explains.
Technology anno 2019
- We take a comprehensive approach when it comes to occupational health and safety at the new University Hospital Skejby - considering indoor climate, access routes, lighting conditions, noise levels, work postures, space availability, and movement patterns related to heavy lifting, pulling, pushing, and repetitive motions. We believe that all types of users should be heard - from the cleaning staff, service assistants, and porters, to the doctors and nurses. This becomes particularly important when all functions come together in the same room, such as a 60 m2 operating theatre. Here, we have parallel processes with different needs. The equipment and fixed installations need to be defined and placed as flexibly as possible. We acknowledge the technological advancements, so we will wait until the last moment to make technical purchases. However, our design should be prepared for the quantum leap in technology in 2019, and that's why we are focusing on flexible solutions, states Jens Sonne.
Future solutions are flexible
Half a year ago, Jens Sonne came across Ergonomic Lighting, which was created with the idea of flexible lighting for all work functions at the same time. He was contacted by Lars Henriksen, who works in the medical technology department at Skejby, and was made aware of the Ergonomic Lighting that had recently been installed in an endoscopy room.
— The idea is obvious, to apply it in other areas where multiple things are happening at the same time. With Ergonomic Lighting, the doctor avoids glare on the screen, the assistant has optimal lighting to find the tools, the sterile and non-sterile areas are separated – and for cleaning, a sharp clear light has been developed, which makes it easier to see needles and therefore reduces the fear of needlestick injuries. It was convincing to see Ergonomic Lighting in action – and I immediately saw the potential in relation to the flexibility we are looking for in the new Skejby, says Jens Sonne.
More room for the patients of the future
In addition to being flexible, future technology will also be labor-saving, as we will face a shortage of healthcare professionals at all levels - especially doctors and nurses, predicts Jens Sonne.
—There will be advanced technical solutions that compensate for the lack of healthcare personnel. The investment will, in some areas, pay for itself through saved labor costs. New technologies are changing the requirements for the work environment. However, they can also provide the staff with more time and energy for human relationships. The conditions for future patients will be characterized by more space, air, light, and easier access to facilities. There are plans for larger patient rooms with space for families, as well as more environmentally friendly measures such as centralized packaging collection. Technology and logistics should ensure that the staff can focus on their areas of expertise for the benefit of the patients. On the other hand, technology should also ensure that all professional groups have the most ideal conditions to perform their work. After all, that's why we are here, concludes Jens Sonne.