Patient centres allow staff numbers to be tailored to patient numbers.
Speedy recovery
"The advantage of patient centres is their more compact size and better layout. The patient has to interact with fewer people, patient transport is minimised and treatment takes place within the unit to which the patient is admitted. This all makes for more speedy recovery," explains Liv Haugen, medical director of the client, Helsebygg Midt-Norge HF.
Better for staff and patients
Patient centres also mean that staff numbers can be tailored to the patient numbers in each given centre.
"Throughout the planning process our aim has been to deliver treatment close to the patient and by staff whom he or she sees on a daily basis," states COWI project manager, Alvin Wehn.
Better night's sleep
It was decided to have rooms rather than wards in the patient centres, providing more individual attention, confidentiality, and reducing the risk of transmission of hospital infections.
The individual rooms are in clusters of eight, centred around a nurses' station so that the staff are readily accessible to the patients and can easily keep an eye on patients and get to them quickly.