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The paper seeks to use a case study to describe work by a Japanese qualitative research specialist with leading office furniture manufacturer to spur innovation in product development and sales strategy in a newly targeted hospital furniture market. It aims to show how qualitative research can allow product development and sales teams to accelerate learning and pace of innovation by providing a window on needs in new market segments from a customer's point of view.

A two‐phase study included phase one interviews with experts in and from outside the hospital field, which were analyzed at a workshop with the client choosing the research theme and identifying key topics. Phase two involved user observation at hospital lobbies and non‐hospital settings, plus in‐depth interviews with patients and hospital staff. Three patient experience styles were identified and personas created for each type. Personas and further analysis facilitated creating criteria for interaction, emotional and functional design. Detailed functional design criteria were used to generate five service ideas and 11 product ideas leading to creation of prototype product.

The study finds that lobby is key factor in shaping overall patient experience. Waiting and navigation are negative patient experiences that not adequately addressed. As frequency of hospital visits increase, patients move from anxiety to irritation to boredom. Severity of illness and patient activity level affect patient desire for engagement with surroundings while waiting. Kiosk displaying map and waiting time meet the urgent needs of anxious patients and support others. Modular design elements updated seasonally vary the physical environment of the hospital and provide context for periodic contacts by sales staff with client hospitals.

This study highlights the reality that ample opportunities exist for successful user‐centered innovations in Japanese healthcare. This study offers insights into patient waiting experience at hospitals and offers a methodology for user‐centered research in healthcare setting.

Medical technology (MedTech) is a growth industry, which like other manufacturing sectors has undergone fragmentation of production and emergence of Global Value Chains (GVCs). The purpose of this paper is to compare how two open European economies position themselves competitively within MedTech GVCs: highly developed Switzerland and the emerging Czech Republic.

The research applies a mixed methodology to analyze the performance of each location in the MedTech GVCs. It draws on macroeconomic, industry, trade and a proprietary sample of firm data, combined with onsite interviews.

The economic outcomes and GVC positions differ in both cases, whereas Switzerland focuses on high value-added activities such as R&D and after-sales service. Specialized manufacturing is also located here in spite of high costs. By contrast, the Czech Republic focuses mostly on low value-added activities, like manufacturing disposables, although some domestic innovative companies are notable. The authors generalize four types of firms in the industry, comparing their presence in both locations.

The competitive positions and challenges faced by each location when engaging in MedTech GVCs are summarized and related to economic outcomes. In the Czech Republic, the barriers to upgrading include its business environment, and weak links between education institutions and industry. Switzerland’s high cost structure is offset by adding high value in core competencies. Both countries should protect the inherent advantage their locations offer within responsive European supply chains.

GVC research in the MedTech sector has been limited. There is no comparison of two European countries, and their position in MedTech GVCs, nor of how firms, participate successfully in them.

During hospitalization, children are faced with physical disorders and many psychological challenges. One important factor affecting children is the environmental design of the hospital. The inappropriate design of hospitals may contribute to an increase in fear, anxiety and behavioral disorders. The purpose of this study is to use children’s perspectives to evaluate the importance and impact of effective environmental factors to generate children’s hospital design guidelines.

In this study, children’s desired atmosphere during treatment was examined via 16 drawings and 24 interviews from children at a children’s hospital in Iran.

The encoding of information extracted environmental components such as window view, color, hobby, playing, decorations, family presence, structure of hospital, presence of nurse, furniture, water features, light and green space. The results indicate that children prefer a hospital environment that provides entertainment facilities while also offering design features such as the presence of light, colorful decorations, the existence of green spaces and conditions suitable for their families to be present.

Depending on the location and their living conditions, the children’s prioritization can be different in any society. In addition, the data of this research was descriptive; thus, the conclusions must be considered tentative.

A number of studies focus on the needs of populations in developed countries. This topic has not been investigated in a major way via professionals in non-western countries such as Iran. Thus, the context of this study and present findings can be deemed unique.

The purpose of this paper is to assist a manufacturing firm in designing the closed-loop supply chain network under risks that are affecting its supply quality and logistics operations. The modeling approach adopted aims at the embedding supply chain risks in a closed-loop supply chain (CLSC) network design process and suggests optimal supply chain configuration and risk mitigation strategies.

The method proposes a closed-loop supply chain network and identifies the network parameter and variables required for closing the loop. Mixed-integer-linear-programming-based mathematical modeling approach is used to formulate the research problem. The solutions and test results are obtained from CPLEX solver.

The outcomes of the proposed model were demonstrated through a case study conducted in an Indian hospital furniture manufacturing firm. The modern supply chain is mapped to make it closed loop, and potential risks in its supply chain are identified. The supply chain network of the firm is redesigned through embedding risk in the modeling process. It was found that companies can be in great profit if they follow closed-loop practices and simultaneously keep a check on risks as well. The cost of making the supply chain risk averse was found to be insignificant.

Although the study was conducted in a practical case situation, the obtained results are not indiscriminate to the other circumstances. However, the approach followed and proposed methodology can be applied to many industries once a firm decides to redesign its supply chain for closing its loop or model under risks.

By using the identified CLSC parameters and applying the proposed network design methodology, a firm can design/redesign their supply chain network to counter the risk and accordingly come up with planned mitigation strategies to achieve a certain degree of robustness.

This study assessed employees’ perceptions of their hospital work environment, its quality and functionality, as well as their satisfaction and well-being both before and after relocation within the hospital campus.

The study was carried out in a Finnish University Hospital. Employees from the anesthesia, orthopedics and physiatrics department took part in the study. The data were collected from the employees with online questionnaires before and after the relocation. The statistical differences between the questionnaire variables were analyzed using the Chi-square test.

Remarkable improvements in the quality of the new workplace included ability to adjust temperature, ventilation and furniture, ability to see out of windows, accessibility, number of meeting rooms, places to discuss confidential matters, quality of interior design, improved work satisfaction and desire to implement Lean. Significant deteriorations after relocation included unsettled work environment, impaired quality of cooperation and decreased interaction between employees.

This study discovered several improvements in the new facilities that had a visible effect on the assessed employee satisfaction and well-being parameters. The paper contains new, significant information that is relevant to the hospital facilities management and provides insight about the pros and cons of relocation and wherein their focus should be placed.

Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

The “Design Bugs Out” project, which is part of the larger NHS and Department of Health's “HCAI (Healthcare Associated Infections) Technology Innovation Programme”, has brought designers together with clinical specialists, patients and frontline staff to test an innovative approach to procurement. The result is eleven prototypes of cutting edge designs that rethink the bedside environment, patient transport and everyday medical equipment, with the aim of helping the fight against MRSA and other (HCAIs). And, while initially intended for adoption by the NHS, these potential new products could prove viable additions for any health organization, especially given that The World Health Organization has estimated that at any given time, 1.4 million people worldwide suffer from healthcare acquired infections.

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

This paper aims to examine the policy and guidance that was issued, either as a direct result of the NHS Plan, or part of a subsequent initiative, surrounding cleaning in the NHS.

A literature review of the Department of Health and related agency web sites was completed. In addition there was a literature review of the relevant academic journals.

There is a growing evidence base on environmental cleaning in the NHS and more specifically the relationship between environmental cleaning and infection control. This paper has examined the contradiction in the evidence in the suspected correlation between infection control and environmental cleaning. However, one thing that does appear to be consistent is that a performance measure based on an observation (visual) assessment is not a sufficient tool to evaluate the environmental cleanliness of a hospital ward.

While the clinical community recognise the contribution of environmental cleaning and the impact on healthcare, more needs to be done to have the relevant studies published in the FM domain. Conversely there also needs to be work done to allow the FM community to have a “voice” in the infection control journals. The literature reviewed suggests that a usable technological solution is required to confirm satisfactory cleaning standards in healthcare facilities.

There is relatively little published work on the importance of cleaning to operations in the NHS, particularly in the FM domain.

Notes the importance of innovation with regard to competitiveness but points out that innovation and change management are synonymous with risk. This research presents a new design typology which is accessible to managers and can be built into corporate strategy ‐ allowing a facility for controlling and managing innovation.

The purpose of this paper is to present a qualitative report on the implementation of activities aimed at reducing disaster risks through safer health facilities in the Western Pacific region.

In response to the Global Campaign on Hospitals Safe from Disasters 2008‐2009, the World Health Organization, with support from the European Commission, provided tools that enabled government, communities and institutions to reduce the risks of their hospitals and health facilities from disasters due to natural hazards. Target countries included Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines and Viet Nam. Different activities were implemented based on country needs, contexts and capacities.

Hospital assessments revealed gaps in infrastructure, essential emergency equipment and functional capacity. Enhancing preparedness and resilience of health facilities is a vital component to ensure risk mitigation and disaster response in communities.

The report calls for further studies on specific gaps in health sector capacity, deficiencies in health infrastructure and economic analysis.

The health sector should implement disaster risk reduction and preparedness strategies through the support of local and national governments.

This is the first report on risk reduction initiatives in the health sector in developing countries in the region. Written at the regional perspective, it engages national and local governments, health policy makers and health facility administrators in the public and private sectors.

Although the quality of health-care infrastructure and equipment influences patient’s overall health-care experience, health-care infrastructure and equipment are not always managed and maintained with the attention required. This is due mainly to the complexity of health-care infrastructure and equipment and shortage of maintenance budget. This study aims to determine if patient’s satisfaction of core health-care business is mediated by the quality of health-care infrastructure and equipment.

This cross-sectional study comprises 622 adult patients at the Physician OPD and Polyclinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital, Tamale Teaching hospital and Cape Coast Teaching hospital in Ghana. Structural equation model Smart PLS was used to analyse the data.

The study results showed that the quality of health-care infrastructure and equipment has a positive significant influence (mediation) on the relationship between health-care delivery and patient’s satisfaction as well as the relationship between adequacy of health-care resources and patient’s satisfaction. However, it was shown not to have a positive significant influence (mediation) on the relationship between quality of health-care personnel and patients’ satisfaction as well as health-care administrative process and patient’s satisfaction.

First, the study findings are centred on cross-sectional data, which capture the opinion of the patients at a specific time period instead of over a period of time. Consequently, in future, though difficult to achieve, a longitudinal study can be piloted to provide more insight. Second, the data was collected from only one country (Ghana); thus, the ability to generalise the results may be a challenge.

The implication of this study is that there is the need to prudently maintain hospital infrastructure and equipment in good working condition as it has a positive effect on patients’ satisfaction of their overall health-care experience.

Most studies have concentrated on patient’s health-care experience. This study extends the knowledge of patient’s health-care experience by determining the mediating role of quality of health-care infrastructure and equipment on the relationship between patient’s satisfaction and core health-care business. There are limited studies of such nature in Ghana. Therefore, this study will provide invaluable empirical data for the health-care sector of a developing African country.