Planned Parenthood Wins Fast Company Innovation by Design Award For Waiting and Recovery Room Design

New York, NY- Today, Fast Company announced that Planned Parenthood’s new waiting and recovery room design guidelines won the prestigious 2016 Innovation by Design Award for Health. After more than a year of research, in-depth interviews and prototypes, together Planned Parenthood and the global human-centered design firm IDEO developed “The Hub and Recovery” to meet the needs of Planned Parenthood patients in this changing healthcare landscape. The design reimagines the waiting and recovery experiences by creating a human centered environment that supports multiple needs.

The Innovation by Design Awards program, now in its fifth year, honors the most innovative and disruptive design solutions to today’s business problems. This year’s judging panel, which was once again comprised of the world’s best design minds, selected the finalists from more than 1,700 international submissions from 41 different countries across 11 categories—the most ever. Other honorees this year include Facebook, L’Oreal, Pinterest, Google, and Nike.

“For nearly a century, Planned Parenthood has provided high-quality care, and in order to do so, we are constantly innovating in order to deliver our mission. Our goal is to make sure that those we serve have the best possible experience and we are honored to win an award for this work,” said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “Patients are at the center of everything that we do and they drive our motivation to innovate.  The staff at Planned Parenthood is dedicated to the field of women’s medicine and we are on the cutting edge of providing high-quality care for women --- this is about being on the cutting edge of providing them a great health care experience, too.”

"Throughout our 18 months of research, design, prototyping, and iterative development, we immersed in the lives of patients and health center staff,” said Grace Hwang, Executive Director, Design for Health at IDEO. “They provided invaluable feedback for all of the touchpoints a patient experiences during a visit, and continued to provide inspiration for this human-centered movement."

The “Hub” is a waiting area with zones that address different emotional and educational needs. A knowledgeable guide welcomes every patient in a greeting area, and a nearby display describes a full menu of services. While patients wait, they can retreat to a quiet nesting space for reflection and decision-making, or spend time with friends and family in a social, kid-friendly common area. And those who want to support Planned Parenthood’s mission can learn about health and advocacy information if they want to get involved.

The “Recovery” areas are separated into private spaces, accommodating loved ones who want to join patients after a procedure. Soothing colors and soft, warm fabrics create a comforting environment, and each woman can reflect and share her own experience or read notes of support from other patients in an open journal of personal stories. Service touchpoints like a ‘thank you’ note from staff and a take-home kit provide support and clear information about what to expect during recovery as well as useful supplies and recommendations for follow-up care.

The designs can be adapted to any of the approximately 650 Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide, and are already in use in many locations.  Today, we celebrate affiliates nationwide who shared their innovative use of the guidelines for consideration by Fast Company’s panel--Planned Parenthood Arizona; Planned Parenthood Gulf Coast; Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC; Planned Parenthood of Michigan; Planned Parenthood Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota; Planned Parenthood of New York City; Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest; and Planned Parenthood of Southern New England.

“At Planned Parenthood, we believe that a great health care experience shouldn’t be a luxury that is reserved for a select few,” added Molly Eagan, vice president of Planned Parenthood Experience at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “It should be available to everyone, regardless of who they are, where they live, how much money they make, or whether they have insurance. We are proud to serve millions of women, men, and young people nationwide each year, and our doors are open to everyone.”

You can learn more about these and other innovative concepts to better meet the needs of Planned Parenthood patients and employees at plannedparenthoodexperience.org.

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Planned Parenthood is the nation’s leading provider and advocate of high-quality, affordable health care for women, men, and young people, as well as the nation’s largest provider of sex education. With over 650 health centers across the country, Planned Parenthood organizations serve all patients with care and compassion, with respect and without judgment. Through health centers, programs in schools and communities, and online resources, Planned Parenthood is a trusted source of reliable health information that allows people to make informed health decisions. We do all this because we care passionately about helping people lead healthier lives.