Creating the ICU of the future: patient-centred design to optimise recovery

BACKGROUND: Intensive Care survival continues to improve, and the number of ICU services is increasing globally. However, there is a growing awareness of the detrimental impact of the ICU environment on patients, families, and staff. Excessive noise and suboptimal lighting especially have been shown to adversely impact physical and mental recovery during and after an ICU admission. Current ICU designs have not kept up with advances in medical technology and models of care, and there is no current ‘gold-standard’ ICU design. Improvements in ICU designs are needed to optimise care delivery and patient outcomes. METHODS: This manuscript describes a mixed-methods, multi-staged participatory design project aimed at redesigning and implementing two innovative ICU bedspaces. Guided by the action effect method and the consolidated framework for implementation research, the manuscript describes the processes taken to ensure the patient-centred problems were properly understood, the steps taken to develop and integrate solutions to identified problems, and the process of implementation planning and rebuilding in a live ICU. RESULTS: Two innovative ICU bedspaces were rebuilt and implemented. They feature solutions to address all identified problems, including noise reduction, optimisation of lighting, access to nature via digital solutions, and patient connectivity and engagement, with solutions developed from various specialty fields, including IT improvements, technological innovations, and design and architectural solutions. Early evaluation demonstrates an improved lighting and acoustic environment. CONCLUSIONS: Optimising the ICU bedspace environment and improving the lighting and acoustic environment is possible. The impact on patient outcomes needs to be evaluated. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13054-023-04685-2.