Healthcare staff evaluation of an emergency department mental health room: a virtual reality study

Emergency Department (ED) staff must rapidly adapt in response to Mental and Behavioral Health (MBH) patient needs. The purpose of this study was to compare two ED exam room design proposals (parallel and perpendicular bed positions) developed to address the need for flexibility and safety in the ED. Simulation-Based Evaluation (SBE) in Virtual Reality (VR) was conducted to evaluate ED staff perceptions of safety, effectiveness, and patient experience in the room at an early design stage. Twenty-seven ED staff members with experience managing MBH patients performed tasks in VR following a scripted scenario that consisted of a nurse caring for an MBH patient with an arm injury, verbalizing their feedback and experiences for both designs. Surveys and debriefing interviews were conducted to gather further insights. This study found that staff members evaluated the perpendicular bed position as safer for all users and afforded a more efficient workflow; Participants valued several features of the overall room design, including: (i) customizable room controls, (ii) sensory-friendly environment and (iii) flexible features, which allowed for a rapid transition from a medical to an MBH room. SBE confirmed that the perpendicular bed position was preferred by staff, and the findings guided future refinements.