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Sue Batista, Director of Housekeeping and Transportation, wants staff members to tour the “room of the future” and record their feedback in the logbook.

It’s warm, calm and a great place for patients to heal. The “room of the future” – now a showroom (8213) at the General Campus – will become standard across TOH over the next three to five years.

“We are creating a standard look and feel for inpatient rooms, including standardizing the colour and type of patient furniture so they all fit well together,” said Sue Batista, Director of Housekeeping and Transportation. “Until now, TOH has been sporting an eclectic look that is in need of a makeover.”

Another showroom is being constructed at the Civic Campus (A554). Batista would like doctors, clinical staff, patients and visitors to tour the rooms and offer feedback. Information cards placed around the rooms explain the key features:

• No-wax flooring. Stripping and waxing floors takes time, creates odours and  requires coordination between Housekeeping and the clinical areas. Plus, droplets of Purell eat the wax!
• Senior-friendly low-sheen flooring helps prevent slips.
• No counters in washrooms decreases clutter.
• Furniture, floors and wall panels in calming shades of “iced coffee” and “henna.”
• Clorox-friendly sink, tile and doors.
• Overbed table that’s easy to clean, repair and use.
• New closet for personal belongings and patient totes, to reduce clutter.
• Light switches combined with call button and TV controls on one hand control.
• Electrical outlets placed higher for easier access by nurses.
• A poster area for hospital messages as well as patient cards and photos.

The concept for the model rooms arose from last year’s SWAT teams for fighting hospital infections. Batista led a group that came up with many strategies to help housekeepers more easily disinfect patient rooms and reduce the spread of infections. Sarah Carkner, Wayfinding and Design Coordinator, liaised with construction crews, suppliers and designers to help the team make choices.

Each room has a log book where viewers can record their feedback.

“We would love to receive varied perspectives and feedback to help refine and improve the model,” said Batista.

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