Since 2011, The Ottawa Hospital has been undergoing a major, multi-phase renovation which clearly illustrates the challenges many hospitals are facing today. Three in particular stand out: 1) renovating older spaces, often designed for acute in-patient care, into spaces that support and enhance ambulatory care; 2) making those spaces more welcoming and comfortable for patients while maintaining Infection Prevention Control (IPC) requirements; and 3) making the spaces as flexible as possible to allow for change to the physical space.

“Our basic philosophy was to create as many non ‘clinical’ settings as possible; eliminate the starkness and make it a warmer, more soothing environment, so that it’s a calming experience for patients,” states Frank Medwenitsch, Director, Planning & Capital Projects at The Ottawa Hospital.

FLEXIBLE, ADAPTABLE

Given the challenges the hospital faced, Catherine McTernan, designer at Ottawa Business Interiors, the local Herman Miller dealership, felt that Herman Miller’s Compass system would be an ideal solution on all fronts. “It is a modular kit of parts that is extremely flexible and adaptable,” says McTernan. “Unlike millwork, which is usually drawn from wall to wall and fits in every nook and cranny, Compass is wall-hung and ‘floats’ on the wall, allowing it to fit into each room’s unique space,” she explains. “So from a design perspective, it made my job easy; when you’re drawing it out, you just create the typical elevation and ‘drop’ it into wherever it needs to go in that particular room, regardless of its size or shape.”

That Compass can be quickly removed, reorganized, and refreshed without demolition or lengthy downtime gives a hospital the ability to handle change gracefully while maintaining high levels of care. Hospitals can choose to pre-wire, pre-plumb, and pre-pipe behind Compass tiles, making it easier to access and maintain services without the mess, downtime, and IPC issues that come with tearing out walls. And, the way Compass is designed—up off the floor—makes it easy to clean around and under.

ELIMINATING POTENTIAL HAZARDS

Compass also features a “splashless” sink which helps minimize the spread of infection. In fact, McTernan says the sink is “the shining star” of the Compass system.

“With porcelain sinks, whether dropped into the millwork or wall hung, you always had the potential for mold, because the seal is only as good as the caulking you put around it. Sooner or later there’s a leak,” says Medwenitsch. “So we’re moving to Corian countertops with integrated sinks because it eliminates that potential hazard; they’re also very durable.”

Winiker notes the Compass tiles and surfaces are also durable and designed with housekeeping in mind. “The shingled design on the tile keeps liquids from seeping into the infrastructure and the materials were designed to withstand frequent cleaning with harsh cleaners.”

Compass fits into spaces of all shapes and sizes and because it’s off the floor, it’s easy to clean around, too.

STATIC VERSUS FLUID

As if to test Compass’s flexibility factor, some minor tweaks were required soon after staff began working in the new spaces. Compass passed with flying colors. “It was as simple as removing storage components and positioning them to better support the staff requirements, or replacing them with something else, using very few tools,” says McTernan. “Best of all, the hospital doesn’t have to shut down the clinic to make changes. They can do it quickly while continuing to treat patients.”

In fact, says Medwenitsch, “we went in over a weekend and made some adjustments after we moved in. We could never have done that with traditional built in millwork. Change is an inherent part of our world, and where millwork is static, Compass is fluid. We didn’t have a huge mess or debris to deal with afterwards, either.”

STORAGE SOLUTIONS

Herman Miller also modified some of the Compass storage solutions, making them deeper for supply-heavy areas, such as exam rooms. Co/Struc, another Herman Miller reconfigurable system that includes storage carts and cabinets, filled in where needed. “The hospital doesn’t have space for central storage, nor the staff for frequent restocking, so with the modifications and Co/Struc we were able to meet all their needs,” says Winiker.

Medwenitsch says Compass was a great match aesthetically as well. “We were using a lot of wood to get the warmth we wanted, along with artwork and other amenities, and the light scale of Compass makes the rooms feel open and spacious.”

Flexible Flo Monitor Supports allow staff to get their work up off the surface and enables each user to adjust for proper posture.