The wait is over. Med center colleagues and stakeholders got their first look at the new Innovation Design Unit, located on level six of University Tower.
Spanning 20,000 square feet for patient care and an additional 4,500 square feet for the Bridge Innovation Program, the IDU will serve as a hub for designing, testing and validating advanced care models, innovative technology and facility designs. This 17-room unit is staffed by about 40 inpatient care providers and eight to 10 Bridge Innovation Program staff.
The unit is the first phase of Project Health, a new $2.19 billion health care facility that will serve as a clinical learning center to train the next generation of health care providers, conduct research and will be the primary hospital for Nebraska Medicine.
Click Play below to watch this video on the Innovation Design Unit open house.
“When we started envisioning Project Health, we realized we needed a space where we could develop and refine ways to further improve the quality and safety of health care,” said Michael Ash, MD, president and chief operating officer of Nebraska Medicine. “This will be a space where we can challenge the norms. The things that work best will be shared with the rest of the organization and become staples of care when Project Health becomes reality.”
Chief Nursing Officer Kelly Vaughn said, “Our goal is to lead the evolution of health care by creating a healing environment that improves outcomes and enhances the experiences of patients, care teams and families. By integrating technology and design principles that connect people to nature, we’re building a space that fosters collaboration, efficiency and innovation.”
The IDU was designed with extensive input from patients and families through a dedicated focus group, to craft calming, nature-inspired interiors that align with Nebraska Medicine’s mission of education, research and patient care.