Last week the Vancouver Sun had an interesting article indicating why hospital wait times are so long. The study comes from the Wait Time Alliance, which puts out hospital report cards, and breaks down results by province. According to the article: "The data show that the system is barely functioning as a system at all, as too … Continue reading Hospital Wait Times vs Long Term Care
Author: Heather
Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum presents the Hamilton Air Show
My fiance received free passes to the Hamilton Air Show so we left Toronto at 9:30 and arrived shortly before 11 am at the Hamilton International Airport. The weather was perfect, although I needed to ensure I had lots of water and sunscreen for the day. The last time I went to an Air Show … Continue reading Hamilton Warplane Heritage Museum presents the Hamilton Air Show
NICU Environment
Last month, I wrote my thoughts on Sunnybrook Hospital's new NICU parent coordinator. Kate Robson, the Sunnybrook Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parent Coordinator, responded to my question: ... is there a way of minimizing the feel of the breathing machines and tubes, and interjecting some life from outside those stabilizing entities? She gave me a link (Thank You!!!) … Continue reading NICU Environment
My Favorite Places in Vancouver
I may have moved to Toronto, Ontario, but I've been thinking about my Vancouver. As I watched the riot destruction of the city I called home for almost 4 years, the scenes made me cry because my all the familiar buildings on my walk to work were destroyed. I'm so happy people came to help … Continue reading My Favorite Places in Vancouver
Ghost Cities in China?
"If you build it, they will come." Field of Dreams. Gail Vaz-Oxlade, a personal finance guru and host of the television show 'Til Debt Do Us Part' posted a link to a Journeyman Pictures video on YouTube, entitled Ghost Cities - China. The video shows several newly built cities in China that remain unoccupied, and … Continue reading Ghost Cities in China?
As You Like It: Bard on the Beach
Yesterday was only the first time in all my three and a half years in Vancouver that I finally took in Bard on the Beach. I couldn't decide what to see from their selections before heading back to Ontario in ten days, so I decided on a comedy: As You Like It. We were informed … Continue reading As You Like It: Bard on the Beach
Kaiser Permanente Competition: Small Hospital, Big Idea – Finalists
So the Small Hospital, Big Idea competition announced the finalists. I was waiting to post on it before I saw the images of the winners but there's a caveat on their site that says "images will be posted shortly," and that's been there for 2 days. Looking forward to the winning entries. I hope they post the … Continue reading Kaiser Permanente Competition: Small Hospital, Big Idea – Finalists
Can Technology Help with Alzheimer's?
I follow a LinkedIn group called the 'AIA Academy of Architecture for Health' (AAH), and through it I discovered the organization The Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Inc, which publishes a newsletter called Perspectives for design professionals and patients. May 2011's newsletter contains an interesting article entitled 'Simple Technology Makes a Huge Impact,' which focuses on the Simple C Companion. … Continue reading Can Technology Help with Alzheimer's?
Kaiser Permanente Competition: Small Hospital, Big Idea
I didn't have the time to participate in this design competition from Kaiser Permanente, a health care providing organization, entitled "Small Hospital, Big Idea," but I'm really looking forward to the results. The design competition seeks: "seeks design concepts for a small, eco-conscious, patient- and family-friendly hospital that uses the best in emerging medical technology … Continue reading Kaiser Permanente Competition: Small Hospital, Big Idea
Navigating the NICU
I was looking through some old articles I bookmarked for later reading and found this one, about a person hired to help families navigate the difficult world of Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs). While the article presents the job description of a person hired specifically to coordinate families as they deal with premature babies, it … Continue reading Navigating the NICU
Understanding the Living Building Challenge
On Wednesday last week, I finally attended a 6 hour seminar on Understanding the Living Building Challenge (LBC) , part of the Living Future Unconference here in Vancouver. I wanted to attend the Roadshow, but time didn't permit until now. I have to say, I'm really impressed by both the LBC and the attendees. The Challenge … Continue reading Understanding the Living Building Challenge
Contaminated Drywall
Imagine for a moment, you have a brand new home, or renovation. You move in, and those familiar smells are there: plastic, paint, rotten eggs. You think you just need to get used to the "new home smell" and begin building your life there. Now imagine not only do you have to get used to … Continue reading Contaminated Drywall
The Last 6 Weeks
I've gone from doing what feels like nothing in this city to doing as much as I possibly can. I got word that I've passed my last NCARB ARE exam so I now have some time to document all the things I've been up to. 1. Three Days Grace Concert, March 20th, 2011. So AMAZING! … Continue reading The Last 6 Weeks
Hands-free Taps and Bacteria
Yesterday, an article caught my attention in the Toronto Star; a study done at John Hopkins Hospital found more bacteria in hands-free faucet models than in manual ones. The electronic faucets have been replaced. I find this study fascinating. According to the article: "the bacteria is able to grow in this one style of faucet because … Continue reading Hands-free Taps and Bacteria
What is Evidence-Based Design?
An architect I know called Evidence-Based Design just another buzzword term, like Integrated Design (ID). While Integrated Design is not such a term, the architect believed ID was good practice, and a good architect always involves consultants right from the start of design. He believed ID was a buzzword because it's a term used to … Continue reading What is Evidence-Based Design?
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