Organizing the Evidence for Healthcare Design Projects

Abstract

Objective: This methodology column provides project leaders with helpful tools to organize the evidence analysis for healthcare design projects. Background: Searching the evidence to support a design change is encouraged both to guide the development of a project and to determine whether the project is performance improvement, evidence-based design change, or novel research. Methods: A project charter, evidence summary grid, stem and leaf plot, and decision algorithm are presented as tools to guide evidence analysis at the start of a healthcare design project. Conclusions: Properly searching the evidence and analyzing results sets the stage for project development and may lead to the dissemination or generation of knowledge from which to set design standards.