“A Day in the Life” Simulation

At Montefiore Medical Center’s Weiler Hospital, PDS lead several design simulations for the emergency department expansion project. Each simulation included roughly a dozen end-users and clinical disciplines gathered around a table-sized printout of the proposed plan. PDS worked with the ED administration to audit the departments worst day from the previous year and this information was organized in a chronological 36-hour period. Using pre-printed patient case cards, the clinical advisory team ran the simulation for a high-speed 36-hour version of this day. 

Often referred to as “a day in the life,” this simulation allows the design team to ask questions and more clearly identify the specific needs for each of the various processes in the E.D. This iterative design process resulted in a highly successful planning process that incorporated innovative solutions to a complex inner-city Emergency Department.