DescriptionThe Change Cubicle - Patient provides the area and amenities required for ambulant patients to change into a hospital gown or appropriate clothes prior to physical therapy, examination, diagnostic imaging, treatment, procedures or surgery, and to re-dress afterwards. The cubicle should provide facilities for temporarily hanging clothes and a bench seat or chair for the patient to sit on whilst changing.Hours of OperationUp to 24 hours (dependent on unit operating hours)Occupancy1 patient intermittently;Additional Considerations~ Provision of a door, cubicle partition system, or privacy curtain to enclose the change cubicle is to be determined to suit patient cohort and service requirements. Where possible, the cubicle should be located so the entry opening is discreet and not facing into high traffic areas.
~ Where door is provided it must swing outward. For door to swing inward, additional area for circulation and emergency release hardware is required. In both cases it is required that the door can be opened from the outside in an emergency.
~ The selection of door hardware, namely handles and locks/privacy latches, must ensure usability by people with limited dexterity and motor skills.
~ Lighting control may be provided external to the change cubicle to serve a number of change cubicles in an area, particularly where cubicle systems or privacy curtains are provided. Enclosed change cubicles may have individual light switches or motion controlled lighting.
~ Where two-way access is provided, e.g. from a corridor and directly from a treatment or imaging room, additional area may be required to provide appropriate circulation at the second entry.
~ Where adjacent or with direct access to an imaging room or treatment room where imaging devices are used, the change room must be adequately shielded. Radiation shielding is to be as advised and confirmed by a Radiation Consultant.
~ Where paediatric services are provided, additional area within change cubicles will be required to support parents/carers assisting children to change. The provision of multiple benches with different seating heights (450mm-520mm for adults and 350mm for children) may also be considered to support paediatric patients.
~ Operational models for handling patient belongings are to be considered. Close proximity to patient lockers or other secure property storage may be required where belongings are not to be kept with the patient.
~ A chair may be provided in lieu of a bench seat depending on patient cohort and service requirements. The depth of the seat for both chair and bench seat options is to be adequate to support movement while changing, and the weight rating of all seating, including provision for bariatric capacity, is to be considered. The colour of seating is to contrast with the flooring and walls to support visibility and reduce the risk of falls.
~ An operational model for responding to calls from staff/patients will be required to support the provision of the patient to staff call button, staff assist call button and emergency call button, and inclusion is to be determined based on service requirements. Additional staff assist and emergency call buttons my be located outside of the cubicle and shared between a number of change rooms depending on service requirements.
~ Mobile duress coverage is to be assessed and planned at a department level and coverage is to suit local security and WHS policies and operational service requirements.