Infection
Written by bethany on February 23rd, 2010
The article “Design Bugs Out” in this months issue of Metropolis is incredible. In this design competition, 4 companies went forward to manufacture a mock up of their design from an item in the patient room. The drive behind the competition is the “ugly truth” of hospital borne-infections spreading and causing deaths.
Metropolis Cover for February 2010
The study and article is based off reasearch from the United Kingdom. The article states in 2007, close to 9,000 people in the UK died from hospital-borne infections. These situations are not just oversees and in other countries. I wish I could say I haven’t walked in a hospital corridor on a recovery floor without passing a sign on a door that says “Staph”. It’s the crazy truth…but, what I love about design is….awe…something fresh with purpose to solve problems. These manufactures, architects and designers worked with the caregivers, patients and vistors to come up with a design to reduce infection. My personel favorite is the bedside table by Kinneir Dufort with Bristol Maid.
The entire piece has hardly any joints and is made of high-denisty polyethyene with soft curves to reduce harboring germs. The design is smooth and easily cleanable. It moves on wheels any from walls unlike most side tables in patient areas. Currently, there are several patient rooms with furniture to heavy to move or built as millwork against the wall…..how do you clean up a spill on that table? Hopefully, it doesn’t get into the wall and create a nest for mold?
What is wonderful about new products and great design is that they are always getter better. The best design solutions are the ones that understand the problem and provide solutions. I’m not suggesting every hospital room should have these new products….I understand funding, costs of renovations and priority of hospital needs….however, I am curious as to how much it cost a hospital when a patient dies from hospital borne-infections….?