Billions of dollars are being spent on the design and construction of new health care facilities. Is our design on the right track to fit the needs of complex chronic disease patients and for their associated health care practitioners? What are the lessons to be learned here?
The Bridgepoint Health focus on complex chronic disease is quite unique internationally. A new $1.2 billion state-of-the-art health facility is being constructed that combines careful engineering and design while focusing on our patient population and their specific needs - a blend of functionality and esthetics.
The new Bridgepoint Hospital provides an unprecedented opportunity, and a natural experiment, to test its impact on health and well being, safety and other physical and social elements of prevention and care in complex chronic disease. We are in a position to systematically develop a research project to collect data before and after the move to the new facility on our patient population, clinical functioning and safety.
This research is conducted in collaboration with Diamond Schmitt Architects, the Department of Architectural Science at Ryerson University, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, Stantec Architecture, KMPB Architects and West Park Health Care Centre. The multidisciplinary team, led by Dr. Celeste Alvaro, consists of experts in the social sciences, research methodology, health research, health care management, architectural design, and the impact of the built environment on health and well-being.