Myrna Daniels Seniors Emergency Medicine Centre
Redefining seniors’ care with Canada’s first dedicated seniors emergency department
Prior lessons learned have compelled development of an innovative design tailored to the growing demand for customized seniors’ emergency medicine that improves clinical outcomes. Holistic design thinking was applied to creating a patient experience for seniors that reduces fear and anxiety, avoids delirium by reinforcing spatial orientation, and supports their unique physical, perceptual and cognitive needs. Circadian lighting, natural wayfinding, biophilic design and therapeutic colour strategies combine to create Canada’s newest benchmark for seniors’ emergency medicine.
The SEM is linked to the main emergency department at UHN’s Toronto Western Hospital, accessed via a dedicated corridor specifically designed to provide a calm transition from initial triage. The SEM features private exam rooms, a family room for enhanced privacy, a suite for assessment of daily living activities (ADL), and staff spaces to support the large multi-disciplinary care team.
All aspects of the SEM are designed for seniors’ unique needs including: hearing and vision impairment, mobility issues and fall prevention, as well as cognitive design that supports patients with dementia.
Perimeter windows are prioritized for treatment rooms, offering views of greenery – aiming to enhance patient outcomes by supporting circadian rhythms, reducing stress, and minimizing the risk of delirium. This is supported by a lighting strategy to further support natural sleep-wake cycles by mimicking natural daylight patterns.
Given the multi-disciplinary nature of seniors’ medicine, the large central care station is designed with distinct zones: a semi-enclosed collaboration area for staff and an open, senior-friendly accessible desk to encourage interaction and communication. During shift change smart glass panels can be turned on to offer privacy as the care team transitions.
