Showcasing person-centred neurorehabilitation environments on an international stage

THC Research Fellow, Dr Jacinta Colley recently represented The Hopkins Centre in London attending the European Healthcare Design conference late last month to present a poster based on her PhD work.

The poster presents the framework for supportive, person-centred neuro-rehabilitation environments developed based on the reported experiences of the inpatient rehabilitation settings of patients and staff from the Spinal Injury Unit and Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit. We hope that this framework and other findings from this research can be used to inform the modification of settings and/or the design of future settings that are responsive to the needs of users.

Check out the poster here. 

The European Healthcare Design conference was attended by a diverse group of people from all over the world with an interest in healthcare design, including researchers, clinicians, engineers, architects and designers. 

The central theme of the conference focused on the future of healthcare and healthcare environments, with lively discussion around the potential impact of key factors including the introduction of new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, changing population demographics and health needs, and a shift towards healthcare services delivered within the community. From a rehabilitation perspective, there was also an emphasis on designing spaces to improve patient outcomes, including supporting independence in daily activities and the translation of skills learned within the rehabilitation setting to the home.

Overall, there were only a few presentations that focused on research relating to rehabilitation environments for people following serious injury. While there is a lot we can learn from research and design practice in other healthcare settings, it was clear that there was a need for more rehabilitation-specific research and evaluation to guide the development of settings that meet the unique needs and preferences of the people staying or working in these spaces.

Check out the event website to view the keynote addresses and other posters presented.

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