When the new Cowichan District Hospital (CDH) opens in 2027, design decisions being made today will ensure it is providing the safest possible care to the growing population of the Cowichan Valley, while also ensuring the safety of staff. With a building three times the size of the existing facility, the CDH Replacement Project Nuts'a'maat Alliance has been collaborating with program staff, and using evidence-based design research, to tackle persistent healthcare challenges.
(L-R): Corry Pettigrew, clinical team manager and Adriana Ezelyk, manager, infection prevention and control, major capital projects, from Island Health, and Melinda Lobo, associate and healthcare planner from Parkin Architects, are members of the CDH Replacement Project (CDHRP) Nuts'a'maat Alliance working to deliver the new Cowichan District Hospital using evidence based design.
Enhancing Patient Safety: Fall Prevention Strategies
Falls are one of the most common causes of preventable injuries in hospitals, but good design can help reduce the risk—especially in patient rooms and washrooms.
“Patient falls can lead to injury for both the individual and the staff who care for them and are known to more than double the patient’s length of stay in hospital,” says Corry Pettigrew, clinical team manager for the CDH Replacement Project. “Falls impact patients, staff, their families, and the healthcare system overall.”
To address this, the new hospital incorporates evidence-based design elements that aim to reduce falls by 50 percent, including providing clearance on both sides of toilets to allow staff to assist patients, positioning fixtures to minimize turning movements, and providing clear, visible pathways between patient beds and the washroom, to reduce tripping hazards and promote independence.
Prioritizing Staff Safety
Healthcare workers face demanding conditions that can lead to injuries. The new hospital aims to reduce staff injuries and related time-loss rates from injuries through several key design features:
- Strategically positioning departments within the hospital to reduce how far staff need to push equipment, including minimizing the number of turns, particularly for Food Service and Equipment Depot staff.
- Designing for future workflow to intentionally minimize repetitive motions and heavy lifting.
- Designing workspaces and equipment with staff health in mind, aligning with best practices in ergonomics.
These measures not only promote the well-being of healthcare workers but also enhance overall efficiency in patient care.
Infection Prevention and Control: A Focus on Safety
The expanded facility allows for a comprehensive approach to infection prevention and control (IPAC), to keep patients and staff safe. Key features include:
Dedicated outbreak units on each inpatient floor to allow for quick isolation during outbreaks, reducing the risk of spreading infections.
- Single-patient rooms: With 80 percent of rooms being private, the design significantly lowers the chance of pathogens spreading between patients.
- Enhanced waste management: Wall-mounted bedpan washers in high-risk patient washrooms allow direct disposal of bed-pan contents, reducing contamination risks.
- Dedicated corridors for clean and soiled materials help limit spread of infections.
- Hand hygiene sinks placed strategically to encourage best practices in hand hygiene.
- Wipeable privacy screens replace traditional curtains, reducing the risk of infection and improving safety during cleaning.
- Automated UV-C disinfection lights in high-traffic washrooms help neutralize harmful microorganisms when the facilities are not in use.
These evidence-based interventions are expected to significantly improve patient outcomes and enhance the safety of healthcare staff.
Standardization for Efficiency: A Streamlined Approach
The new hospital will have standardized room layouts. Instead of 24 different room types, rooms will follow the same design, making it easier for staff to work efficiently. By creating predictable environments, caregivers can focus more on delivering exceptional patient care rather than adjusting to different room layouts throughout their shifts. Melinda Lobo, healthcare planner and associate at Parkin Architects—the firm behind the clinical design of the new hospital—explains, "Standardizing room layouts reduces cognitive load, enhances workflow, and minimizes errors, creating a safer, more efficient environment for both staff and patients."
A Commitment to Quality and Safety
The CDH Replacement Project exemplifies Island Health’s commitment to quality, safety, and innovation. Through evidence-based design, the facility will address critical healthcare challenges, enhancing outcomes for patients and staff alike. Island Health aims to set a new standard for healthcare excellence—one that prioritizes people, embraces innovation, and builds a sustainable future for all.
As Island Health continues to pursue excellence, the lessons learned from this project will inform the design of future facilities, ensuring that every healthcare environment supports the well-being of its users. The future Cowichan District Hospital is more than a building; it’s a blueprint for safer, smarter, and more compassionate care spaces.