One of my classes this term, 2.75 (precision machine design), involves working on a medical-themed project. My team is looking to improve the patient repositioning process – as it stands, nurses frequently get hurt moving patients, and patients are moved in a way that is uncomfortable and inhumane. It’s a widespread and difficult problem, but I think that our team will come up with something innovative.
We visited MGH last week to observe a few patient repositioning techniques in action. What struck me the most about the visit, besides the actual devices, were the aesthetics of the hospital. The rooms would be difficult to make more dreary. Where are the colors and smooth shapes? Where are the designs that make medical devices seem more friendly? Even the waiting rooms are drab – one aquarium in the cardiac ICU even had a dead tropical fish lying ominously, one-eye up in the sand. It would be so easy to make patient and waiting rooms just a little bit more cheerful. As we enter the realm of intense hospital competition, little details like this could make a big difference. Maybe this is a biz opportunity for a company to come in and “positive-fit” hospitals…
