outpatient clinic operating room Research & Insights
Observational Research
Ethnographic Research
Generative Research
Opportunities for Design
This project was completed for an interdisciplinary studio which brought together graduate students from engineering and design. The entire class conducted many rounds of observations within an outpatient clinic, including observing different types of procedures within an ENT (Ear, Nose, Throat) operating room, as well as shadowing patients throughout their entire journey at the clinic. The purpose of these initial observations was to understand the process from both the patient’s and the nurse’s point of view, while looking for design opportunities that could improve their experiences.
As a smaller team, we focused more directly on the physical supplies and materials that are handled and used during these short operations. Through our observations and interviews we found that counting and tracking all the supplies used throughout the entire procedure was the most time-consuming part of the process.
To uncover ways to improve this process, we conducted a participatory design session with the head of the sterile storage room. We provided her with the tools to visualize the problems with the current situation, as well as generate ideas for how it could be improved in the future. As a result, key needs were identified and then prioritized, which revealed the areas for the most opportunity. Based on these opportunity areas, we were able to propose preliminary design directions.
