Bariatric’ patients present with extreme weights, non-uniform body shapes, and a significant numbers of co-morbidities. Outpatients normally cannot walk far. These patients can present in any hospital area for treatment or be admitted to any ward. If they have reduced physical function or are dependent for any part of their stay there is a higher risk of staff injury. The level of risk can be reduced if appropriate spaces and specialised equipment resources are made available
The new Royal Adelaide Hospital (new RAH) is due to open in 2016 and will replace the current RAH. The new RAH design is modeled on patient centered care and will provide 100% single patient bedrooms with ensuite to replace the predominantly 4-6 bed bays and shared bathrooms of the main ward areas in the current RAH buildings, built in the 1960s.
The new RAH general inpatient units have been configured as 16 bed “pods” and to address the management of patients with special nursing needs at least one bedroom per pod is larger and 5 of these have been designated ‘bariatric rooms’ on multiple levels. Specialty areas such as ICU, Spinal Injuries and Burns have also incorporated larger rooms.
Ceiling rails for lifters are in all patient rooms, with H tracking in ICU, special rooms and their ensuites.
This presentation discusses the new RAH building design features, furniture, fixtures and equipment planned for managing larger and dependant patients.