Working From Within: The Rural Community Participatory Design Framework.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Design
• Community Engagement
• Rural Health

Background:

• Rural communities face healthcare facility closures, provider shortages, and resource limitations impacting health outcomes.
• Effective rural healthcare delivery necessitates understanding contextual factors through community and healthcare team partnerships.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a rural community-based participatory design framework.
• To guide healthcare design teams in integrating rural community and clinical perspectives.
• To enhance the planning, design, and construction of rural healthcare facilities.

Main Methods:

• Adapted from the rural participatory research model, incorporating rural nursing theory and theory of the built environment.
• The framework integrates healthcare facility project phases, translational concepts, and rural community traits.
• Currently being tested in a Critical Access Hospital project in Montana.

Main Results:

• The framework facilitates collaboration between design teams and stakeholders.
• It provides a structured approach to incorporating diverse rural perspectives.
• Testing in Montana aims to refine the framework for practical application.

Conclusions:

• The framework aids design teams in understanding rural cultures, needs, and values for meaningful design.
• It enhances the appraisal of stakeholder engagement best practices throughout healthcare projects.
• This approach supports the development of more effective and responsive rural healthcare facilities.