Backpage Q&A: Design Space That’s Innovative and Inviting

Q&A with Robert Peake, vice president of facilities management and real estate for Atlantic Health System

Tell us how long you’ve been in your current position and what your job entails.
I’ve been in my current position for 28 years. My responsibilities include design and construction for all new and existing buildings. I also oversee the facilities engineering/maintenance group for our hospitals for the health system, along with our real estate holdings and property management. Other responsibilities include oversight of biomedical engineering and fleet management.

 

How does a facility’s structure/design impact the surgeons’ performance?
ORs must be designed to be safe, comfortable, efficient and functional for the entire surgical team. Temperature/humidity control, lighting, placement of equipment and accessibility and versatility are crucial. We design space by collaborating with surgical teams to provide them with space where they feel comfortable, safe and able to perform complex surgery.

What’s the most rewarding part of building or renovating a facility?
Working with our clinical teams to develop innovative space that has the technology and infrastructure, so they can provide the best care for our patients. It’s incredibly rewarding when we complete a project to hear the clinical team comment on how the space helps them provide extraordinary care, and they enjoy working in that space and appreciate the fact that we actively engage with them from the early stages of design.

What design elements maximize patient and provider satisfaction?
With patients, I always look to design space that’s innovative and cutting edge, but also warm and inviting. That means incorporating highly technical equipment and infrastructure into space that feels comfortable and helps put patients at ease. A hospital or ASC can be an intimidating, scary place. Our goal is to create space that reduces anxiety and stress for the patient. For us, that’s a home run. With providers, we also want that space to be comfortable, but it also must be highly advanced technically and functionally, so the provider has all the infrastructure and tools they need to provide the best possible care.

What advice can you offer to a facility that is looking to expand or upgrade?
Engage your clinical team early on, obtain input and feedback from patients and actively listen. Research to see what new and innovative equipment, design and materials are available. Develop a plan that will deliver the optimal space for your clinical team, while also providing quality care for their patients. OSM