By Nathan Williamson, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP
What health science students need from their education in a changing world.
Rapid-fire changes to healthcare have influenced health science education significantly over the last decade. The COVID-19 pandemic alone has shifted the approach to care-provider wellness, telemedicine, online learning and home health. Aging baby boomers, an increasing population and more affordable healthcare has created a shortage in healthcare professionals, and technology has changed the way care can and will be provided. Students and clinicians alike are facing new challenges that require more interdisciplinary education, training and opportunities for new and advanced degrees. Looking toward the future, here are six trends impacting health science education today.
Simulation
Teamwork is an important element of patient care, especially in acute hospital settings. The journey of care for patients is complex and often touches each of the allied health professions. This journey highlights the need for health professionals to collaborate and communicate clearly with each other. Health educators are utilizing simulation to train students in controlled environments that model real-life experiences healthcare professionals may encounter. Space types often mirror this patient journey with ambulance simulators, mock operating rooms, patient beds with high-fidelity training mannequins monitored by control rooms, and physical therapy spaces for recovery.
Debriefing is also an essential part of the simulation-based learning experience. Locating debriefing rooms in areas that can double as break out or study spaces allows them to serve multiple purposes. Considerations to improve simulations may include supplementing fixed, high-tech simulation spaces with flexible, low-tech solutions such as a Go-Pro for audio/video capture that can be shared in labs and classrooms.
Well-Being
The pandemic also forced health systems and providers to train nurses and technicians to consider their own well-being to better care for patients. Equally, health science students face tremendous stress due to long lab and classroom hours. Communal spaces such as open seating areas, cafes, and easily accessible outdoor environments are ideal for supporting the well-being of students and faculty. It is pivotal to ensure a rich variety of spaces that accommodate socializing as well as quiet breaks.
Smaller independent spaces complement larger spaces for varying comfort needs of the student population. Educators are also providing healthy vending options as an added amenity in places designated for rest and reprieve. Creating a feeling of home for the student and staff is essential. This can be achieved with simple upgrades like adjustable lighting, calming colors, daylight, soundproofing, comfortable seating, and plants, which all help students relax and recharge.
Home Healthcare
Patient care is moving out of the hospital and into the community. While the pandemic accelerated the use of telehealth, many providers and patients alike see long-term value in at-home healthcare services. As baby boomers age and the average life-spans increase, health professionals are needed at assisted living facilities, single family homes, and over the phone. Many educators are adjusting curriculum to better position students for the rising need for elderly care. To better prepare students, consider a bedroom simulation to pair with traditional hospital bed style simulation to practice and access skills related to growing geriatric care.
