Giving our Military Veterans the Patient-Centered Care They Deserve

5/29/2024

Attention to design has never been more important as healthcare systems, practices and providers look for empathetic approaches that bring together workflows and technologies to support increased efficiency and safety, as well as improved outcomes.

In today’s patient-focused, value-based care environment, design has evolved into a strategic component of the point of care ecosystem. At the heart of this design-led approach is the understanding that better care starts with a better-designed experience.

We work closely with providers and healthcare systems that are wanting to adopt a more patient-centered design approach to their clinical outpatient spaces. We provide our insight and experience and identify key design elements and equipment that can improve workflows for their unique care paths.

There is a shared goal of creating a seamless patient experience that is focused on the changing needs of the patients, enhances patient-caregiver interaction and realizes greater efficiencies to contribute to better clinical outcomes.

This is why we offer designs that support the Veterans Health Administration’s Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) model. The approach, based on the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model, examines the process of care delivery from the veteran’s perspective with the overall goal of transforming the VA healthcare delivery system to provide more patient-centric care. It provides a framework by which design teams can prioritize and align purpose and intended outcomes.

According to Lloyd H. Siegel, FAIA and Gordon Schectman, M.D., in the forward to the PACT Space Module Design Guide, “The utilization of a consistent PACT Clinical Space Module for planning and design of all VA facilities in which Primary Care services are provided will contribute significantly to an environment of standard effective and efficient care. Those who have served the Nation will utilize these facilities more than any other VA facility for the remainder of their lives, and they deserve no less.”

PACT standardizes spaces where veteran patient care is delivered to facilitate operational efficiency and future flexibility. For example, patient care rooms are designed as universal rooms that can perform examinations, consultations and treatments as needed. The room’s function can easily be changed by simply rolling in a mobile cart, utilizing workstations, such as the Midmark 6212 Flat Panel PC Workstation, or changing the furniture or equipment. With minor modifications, the same room can be used by all patient care providers.

To strengthen and align our support of the PACT model, Midmark recently launched a new medical page on midmark.com designed to enhance the buying experience for its US federal government customers.

The new resource makes it easier for VA healthcare delivery systems to do business with Midmark by offering exam room layouts and products that meet the PACT standard as well as products and distributors that are available within their agency’s contract.

PACT is changing the way veterans experience healthcare from space allocation, planning and design to engagement with the clinical team, and we are excited to support it. Midmark is committed to helping the VA continue the transformation to a more patient-centric healthcare experience for our veterans.

For more information on how Midmark supports the PACT model, visit the new medical page on midmark.com.