Hospital Gowns with Dignity

When Noah Thompson Orfield spoke about the lack of dignitiy in traditional hospital gowns in Dr. Charleson's Bell's Innovation Activism and Altruism class last year, it seemed as if everyone in the room knew that the concept was too important to let go by the wayside. Dr. Thompson Orfield noted that he hoped to "design clothing that encourages autonomy, trust and compassion while also respecting the uncertainty, vulnerability and grief that come with hospitalization." Fast forward to this year and the great minds of Charleson Bell, PhD and Ryan Buckley, MD (Director of the MIDP). Using concepts of customer discovery with hospital patients to identify difficulties with traditional hospital gown designs, the idea of a design sprint came together. At the end of the challenge, partipants pitched their ideas to attendees. The end result is an improvement in offering patients dignity during their hospital stay that will continue to improve and integrate over time. Click here to read the full article in the Vanderbilt News.

3rd Year Students Idea Lab Project

One of the most exciting aspects of the MIDP program is the third year IDEA Lab class taught by Dr. Ryan Buckley. The second year cohort ended the second year Innovation Activism and Altruism class with a hold on the most marketable issue seen during the course of their second year clerkships. Noah Thompson Orfield, PhD, Sarah Ouadah, PhD and Emma Neal, PhD noted the difficulty of coordinating goals and needs for patients between their different care teams and family members.

After interviewing more than 100 people that included patients, families, physicians, nurses and other participating care teams, they began testing simple prototypes to bring those care plans together. Learning from patients that they preferred to be in the loop on all care they were receiving and the stress involved in not having a full understanding of their care spurred SharePlan into action. Read more about SharePlan here.

Correction

Last month it was noted in this newsletter that Dr. Dennis Zhou would be doing his internship year at Vanderbilt. He will actually be doing his intern year at TriStar Centennial. We wish him luck at TriStar, Stanford and beyond!

Photography by Dr. Trent Rosenbloom

Thanks to the MIDP assistant directory, Dr. Trent Rosenbloom for continuing photograph Nashville's parks in their spring glory!