Target value design: applications to newborn intensive care units

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Design
• Construction Management
• Neonatal Medicine

Background:

• There is a growing need to understand the health impacts and cost-benefit analyses of design choices in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs).
• The transition from traditional open-bay NICUs to single-family-room (SFR) units presents unique design challenges and opportunities.
• Informed decisions regarding long-term value of design strategies are essential for healthcare facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the guiding principles of Target Value Design (TVD), a price-led methodology, within the context of healthcare facility design.
• To explore the role of set-based design within TVD and its specific application to NICU environments.
• To provide a framework for making informed design decisions that balance health impact and cost-effectiveness in NICUs.

Main Methods:

• Introduction of Target Value Design (TVD) principles.
• Discussion of set-based design methodologies.
• Application of these principles to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) design considerations.

Main Results:

• TVD offers a structured approach to healthcare facility design, prioritizing value from the outset.
• Set-based design complements TVD by exploring multiple design options to achieve optimal outcomes.
• These methodologies can guide decisions regarding the transition to single-family-room (SFR) NICUs.

Conclusions:

• Target Value Design (TVD) and set-based design provide valuable frameworks for optimizing NICU design.
• These Lean construction-informed methodologies can lead to improved patient outcomes and cost efficiencies.
• Further research and application of TVD are recommended for future NICU development and renovation projects.