Date Available
3-17-2015
Year of Publication
2015
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Document Type
Doctoral Dissertation
College
Public Health
Department/School/Program
Epidemiology and Biostatistics
First Advisor
Dr. Wayne T. Sanderson
Second Advisor
Dr. Richard J. Charnigo, Jr.
Abstract
In 2011 the University of Kentucky opened the first two inpatient floors of its new hospital. With an estimated cost of over $872 million, the new facility represents a major investment in the future of healthcare in Kentucky. This facility is outfitted with many features that were not present in the old hospital, with the expectation that they would improve the quality and efficiency of patient care. After one year of occupancy, hospital administration questioned the effectiveness of some features. Through focus groups of key stakeholders, surveys of frontline staff, and direct observational data, this dissertation evaluates the effectiveness of two such features, namely the ceiling-based patient lifts and the placement of large team meeting spaces on every unit, while also describing methods that can improve the overall state of quality improvement research in healthcare.
Recommended Citation
Bardach, David R., "Evidence-Based Hospitals" (2015). Theses and Dissertations--Epidemiology and Biostatistics. 5.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/epb_etds/5
