title: Decentralizing the Team Station: Simulation before Reality as a Best-Practice Approach.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to share the logistical planning requirements and simulation experience of one Canadian hospital as it prepared its staff for the change from a centralized inpatient unit model to the decentralized design planned for its new community hospital. With the commitment and support of senior leadership, project management resources and clinical leads worked collaboratively to design a decentralized prototype in the form of a pod-style environment in the hospital's current setting. Critical success factors included engaging the right stakeholders, providing an opportunity to test new workflows and technology, creating a strong communication plan and building on lessons learned as subsequent pod prototypes are launched.
authors.affiliation: Director of the Project Management Office, Halton Healthcare, in Oakville, ON.
authors.forename: Jackie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Charko
authors.affiliation: Senior project analyst in the Project Management Office at Halton Healthcare in Oakville, ON.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geertsen
authors.affiliation: Senior project manager, Process Design Process Redesign in the Project Management Office at Halton Healthcare in Oakville, ON until October 2015.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Professional practice clinician, Operational Readiness, Medical Program, at Halton Healthcare in Oakville, ON until September 2014.
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rouse
authors.affiliation: Senior project analyst in the Project Management Office at Halton Healthcare in Oakville, ON.
authors.forename: Ammarah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shahid
authors.affiliation: President and CEO of Halton Healthcare, in Oakville, ON.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hardenne
mesh_terms: D006275:Health Facility Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009864:Ontario; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D057188:Workflow