Testing & Testing Results

Testing Procedures and Test Results

Introduction

The 2009 TSA Architectural Modeling and Design Competition requires participants to design the plans for a freestanding emergency medical clinic. Each team must create a set of detailed drawings and plans to convey the final design of the clinic. The clinic is meant to function as a 24 hour walk in facility that provides medical care to the general public. This type of facility can handle medical needs ranging from serious trauma to a simple ailment. The purpose of this type of clinic is to provide accessible medical care in areas that are not in close vicinity to a hospital. Patients can simply walk into the clinic, no appointment necessary, and be treated. Upon arrival, information is recorded from each patient, and they are treated according to arrival, and severity. Patients are brought to examination rooms, or in cases of serious injury, to the trauma unit.

A floor plan, landscape plan, and parking lot layout were created as part of the design process. An architectural model was created to help visualize the design plans. The floor plan is divided into two main sections; employee and patient space. The parking lot is designed to ease the flow of traffic throughout the lot, and to separate patient and employee parking spaces. The landscape is designed to create privacy for the facility and create energy efficiency.

Testing Procedures

Original Procedures
1. Schedule a date for the conference
2. Schedule a location for the conference
3. Speak with possible evaluators/mentors for commitments
4. Prepare presentation/posters
5. Prepare model for evaluation
6. Present the basic design of the project, including rationale and thought processes.
7. Go over individual sections of the design, including floor plans, wall sections, window and door schedules, exterior wall elevation, and interior drawings.
8. Discuss site layout
9. Discuss roof choice, and wall support systems.
10. Have the feed back session
11. Give survey out to evaluators.

Original Surveys
Mentor Survey

1. How professional and accurate are the architectural drawings?
2. Are there any major errors in the architectural drawings?
3. Are the architectural drawings sufficient in displaying the design and layout of the building?
4. What design/structural problems are there if any?
5. In regards to design and layout, what would you have done differently?
6. Are the room dimensions accurate and appropriate?

Medical Evaluator Survey

1. Does the layout of the building coincide to that of other medical facilities?
2. Would the layout of the building provide sufficient space for an emergency situation?
3. Would you be able to operate and conduct the medical procedures necessary in such a facility?
4. What changes would you make to the overall design and layout of the buildings?

Revised Procedures

Preliminary Stage

1. Create surveys for medical personnel

2. Set up a meeting with medical personnel at local emergency medical clinics

3. Prepare presentation boards, floor plan and site plan, and all materials for meeting

Secondary Stage

1. Meet with clients (medical personnel)

2. Record all feedback

Final Stage

1. Record data from meetings

2. Organize data

3. Analyze and create a testing conclusion

Testing

Step 1: Medical Survey

Evaluation Survey- Interior Layout

Please indicate, on a scale from 1 (not very) to 5 (very), your response

1. How efficient do you find the set up of the reception area in relation to the waiting room and patient wing?

1 2 3 4 5

2. How efficient do you find the separation of employee and patient space in the medical center?

1 2 3 4 5

3. How helpful to you find the location of the trauma unit in relation to the rest of the building?

1 2 3 4 5

4. How maneuverable do you find the layout of the medical center in general?

1 2 3 4 5

5. Are the positions of the emergency exits appropriate?

1 2 3 4 5

6. Does each placement of the room make sense in relation to an average work day?

1 2 3 4 5

Comments:

Testing Results

Medical Interior Layout Survey

Average Results- Scale from 1-5

1. How efficient do you find the set up of the reception area in relation to the waiting room and patient wing?	4.2
2. How efficient do you find the separation of employee and patient space in the medical center?	4
3. How helpful to you find the location of the trauma unit in relation to the rest of the building?	3.5
4. How maneuverable do you find the layout of the medical center in general?	3.5
5. Are the positions of the emergency exits appropriate?	4.3
6. Does each placement of the room make sense in relation to an average work day?	4.2

Comments:

- The distinct separate may prove difficult for moving around the clinic

- Good layout, thought process is apparent, may be hard to switch between sections of the building, large space, possible to consolidate.

- Well thought out, may get congested with many patients and staff, more storage space

- Lab placement may hinder movement with patients.

Summary

The testing resulted in a better understanding of the general medical opinion of the designed clinic. There seemed to be a general approval of the interior layout. No area received a score lower than a 3.5. Meeting with the medical professionals proved to be very beneficial to the testing of this design.