Full-scale mock-ups bring QEII Halifax Infirmary’s new acute care tower to life

As part of the QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project, the future of healthcare is being designed with a hands-on approach. Stepping into life-sized mock-ups, healthcare teams are refining and perfecting the spaces that will eventually deliver patient care, starting with full-scale paper layouts of spaces in the new acute care tower.

Insights from these mock-ups will ensure the design meets the needs of patients and staff in the 216-bed, new expanded emergency department and ICU. The acute care tower is set to revolutionize care for Nova Scotians. 

Last summer, healthcare teams had a unique opportunity to walk through detailed, to-scale representations of many new care spaces, including the ambulatory procedures unit endoscopy space. By interacting with these layouts, teams experience the space as if it was fully constructed, offering critical feedback to improve functionality, workflow and the patient experience. 

“The ability to physically step into a room and evaluate it from a clinical care perspective was invaluable,” said Suzanne McIsaac, health services manager for endoscopy in the Central Zone. “In an area like endoscopy, effective utilization of space and intentional placement of equipment can mean better patient flow and safer patient care. It’s been really valuable to have our team engaged to provide critical feedback and share our lens on the work we do every day.”

Based on initial feedback, the next phase of mock-ups is complete. The second round featured full-scale paper and cardboard mock-ups of key spaces, representing a significant milestone in refining the design. This phase allows teams to visualize and test room layouts in a tangible way. Insights gained from this process will directly inform the design and layout of the next phase of mock-ups, bringing the team closer to a final design. Build Nova Scotia will incorporate feedback from healthcare teams into the final design, making adjustments throughout construction to help ensure the new spaces support both patient care and workflow needs.

“This collaborative process allows our QEII redevelopment clinical planning team to make adjustments based on feedback from frontline leaders, allied health, operational managers, physicians, and other clinicians,” said Ian Westhaver, director of clinical equipment with the QEII redevelopment team. “By involving healthcare providers early in the planning process, we’re creating and designing spaces that will work for the entire care team.”

The paper and cardboard mock-ups mark the beginning of a phased planning process that will evolve through multiple stages, ultimately culminating in the construction of fully completed rooms. As this process progresses, engagement with clinical users will expand and allow more teams to contribute to refining the spaces.

The use of mock-ups has already proven valuable in Nova Scotia’s healthcare infrastructure projects. The Bayers Lake Community Outpatient Centre also utilized mock-ups in its design development phase. The feedback gathered from those sessions contributed to refining patient care spaces and ensuring they met operational and clinical needs.

Mock-ups are just one element of clinical planning for the new acute care tower. Clinical planning is also guided by 41 distinct user groups made up of both clinical and non-clinical participants. Together, they ensure the new spaces are not only functional but also adaptable and support patient care and operational efficiency. 

This collaborative approach ensures the new acute care tower will meet the evolving needs of both staff and patients. The tower is poised to set a new standard for patient-centered care in Atlantic Canada, combining future healthcare advancements with a focus on functionality.

“We know that patient outcomes improve when healthcare providers are supported with well-designed spaces,” McIsaac said. “By sharing our expertise, we can ensure we make the best space for our staff and patients.”

The QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project is a partnership between the Government of Nova Scotia, Build Nova Scotia and Nova Scotia Health. Part of More, Faster: The Action for Health Build, this initiative will deliver a modern acute care tower with 216 beds, 16 operating rooms, an intensive care unit, and a new larger emergency department. The project will enhance access to care, replace aging infrastructure and support clinical excellence for future generations of Nova Scotians. 

For more information on the QEII Halifax Infirmary Redevelopment, visit QE2Renew.ca  

For more information on the QEII Halifax Infirmary construction, visit Build Nova Scotia QEII Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project.