Nightingale Best Of Competition Winner Addresses Fast-Track Care In EDs
DIRTT’s prefabricated exam unit aims to address throughput and overcrowding in emergency departments with an all-in-one solution for fast-track care.
With increasing demand on emergency departments and limited physical space, healthcare leaders are rethinking how care environments are designed to both serve patients and support operational efficiency. COVE™ was conceived as a modular solution that enables healthcare systems to expand their low-acuity treatment capacity with precision-manufactured modules that integrate clinical functionality, comfort, and workflow efficiency within a compact footprint.
The design process centered on extensive research, clinician input, and full-scale testing to ensure that every element of the module supports real-world clinical practice, from privacy and acoustics to intuitive flow and adaptable lighting. Offsite prefabrication and modular construction reduce on-site disruption and condense project timelines, while the system’s configurability allows health systems to adapt, update, or expand spaces over time without demolition.
By enabling rapid installation, improved patient flow, and long-term flexibility, COVE reflects a broader shift toward agile, evidence-informed healthcare design that elevates the experience for patients, care partners, and clinicians.