by jbs041509 — April 20, 2009—Renovations have begun to transform the Re-Thinking school on the BRE Innovation Park in Watford in the UK into a futuristic community-based primary care health facility that will be launched at BRE’s INSITE09 event in June 2009.
The Willmott Dixon Community Healthcare Campus brings together a set of initiatives that provide a glimpse of what the patient experience of local healthcare will be in the next 20 years, when an older population puts the emphasis on technology that encourages assistance in the home. Willmott Dixon and project partner Primary Asset are hoping the campus will give a valuable insight to the healthcare industry.
The Campus will also demonstrate some ideas as to how zero carbon can be achieved, as per the NHS’s 2018 target. It aims to illustrate the concept of “assisted living,” where future healthcare technology will allow people to be monitored remotely in their homes and avoiding unnecessary trips to local healthcare clinics that will be stretched owing to the aging population. The Campus will also feature:
- a smart reception area incorporating a smart card system that links to a patient’s online medical history–the card prompts any checks or tests required by the user, such as blood pressure and sugar levels, which are automatically taken before their appointment;
- a telecare monitoring area that links to the Osborne Assisted Living home (one of the demonstration homes also on the BRE Innovation Park);
- a pharmacy of the future;
- passively ventilated consulting rooms;
- a carbon-neutral, non-invasive suite; and
- a second floor covered roof terrace that incorporates a fitness area and a healthy food growing area.
During the INSITE09 event, the Campus will link to a Mobile Operating Theatre Unit, which will be on site for the four days of the event.
