Abstract:

In designing for an environment as multi-faceted as an operating room, with its complexity of teambased roles and protocols, mixture of high and low-tech, and spatial and ergonomic challenges, a comprehensive picture of hidden factors and needs often becomes fragmented by the production demands around individual products, services, or roles. For 12 weeks, the embedded design group SPARC at the Mayo Clinic conducted in-depth, qualitative research to expose a vast range of hidden factors and user needs in live cardiovascular surgery rooms to gain a holistic understanding of critical issues related to team performance. This research highlights SPARC's unique role and challenges in healthcare environment innovation.