Design of the Next

Generation Mobile Clinic

Team MRC, GET 2012

Erick Froede

Bryan Lewis

Hendrik Bosman

Barend de Villiers

Rural health care is provided by a mobile

clinic (MC), staffed by two nurses

However, the MC is problematic and

impacts quality of care

The primary deficiencies fall into three

distinct categories

Inadequate Vehicle Platform

Limited Nurse & Patient Comfort

Lack of Modern

Equipment

Bad Product Design

The design thinking method ensures quality

product designs

Team MRC is working side by side with

the stakeholders to develop a solution

Nurses

Govern-ment

Vehicle

Builders

How can I

use a mobile

clinic? How can I

build a

mobile clinic?

How can I

manage a

mobile clinic?

Particular attention was paid to the user experience,

which was key to understanding the problem

A survey of MC nurses was conducted to gather

information on the current MC and future designs

The solution consists of four unique efforts that

come together to form the next generation MC

Vehicle Selection

Auxiliary Equipment

Anthropometric

Modeling

Modular Unit

Design New

MC

An Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP)

was used to evaluate the vehicles

Eighteen vehicles were considered V

W C

raft

er

35

Nis

san N

V400

Toyota

Quantu

m

Ford

Tra

nsit

The selected vehicle has an ideal combination of

characteristics for an MC platform

VW Crafter 35 2.0 L TDI

• Super high roof

• Medium wheel base

The use of a larger vehicle platform introduces a

license issue, but this has been resolved

The new MC features equipment to improve

healthcare and working conditions

Medical Equipment Compiled unique list of medical

equipment specific to MCs

Electricity Supply 12 VDC and 220 VAC supplied to

clinical area

Climate Control VW Crafter’s rear compartment

HVAC options were implemented

Refrigerated Storage Two medical grade thermoelectric

coolers installed

Lavatory Facilities Flushing chemical toilet and

hygiene station integrated

Examination Bed Articulation examination bed fitted

Anthropometrics were a key factor in the

development of the clinical area

Obtain base data

• MC-ANSUR

• SA knee height study

Develop model

• Regression-based

• Residual variance

Extract values

• Find the 2.5th and 97.5th percentile

• Make design decisions

The extracted values were compiled into a design table,

which was used as a guideline for future decisions

A modular design approach was developed

to address key needs

The modular system is assembled into a

complete working environment

There are three distinct areas in the MC to

suit patient and nurse requirements

Examination Area

Clinical Area Administrative / Consulting Area

Team MRC has produced the next

generation mobile clinic

A new specification and budget sheet have been

produced and will be delivered to the MRC

Government adoption of the

MC

Addition of the MC description to the NaTIS

Integration of new technology

Further development of

the modular units

Procure the best available

vehicles

Bring international

models to the SA market

Place them on government procurement

list

Pursue a new anthropometric

survey

Consider both the nurses and

patients

Iterate on the final design

The current layout can be

improved further

Several tasks remain which can further

improve the impact of the project

The final rollout of the project will occur

over the next four years

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Procure Vehicle

- Oct 2012

MC Conversion by MIB

- Jan 2013 – Feb 2013

Field Testing

- Mar–Dec 2013

Finalize MC Design

- Jan 2014

MC Fleet Rollout

- 20/year for 3 years

Thank you!

Acknowledgements:

• Medical Research Council, Sponsor

• Prof Tony Bunn

• Giovanni Milandri

• GET Supervisors

• Prof. Cornie Scheffer

• Dr. Matt Parkinson

• Project Assosiates

• Dr. Frans Krige

• Charlotte Stemmet, CNP

• Alta Swanepoel & Assocatiates

• Jeff Banks, AVE

And all the others who helped us throughout this project.

Appendix

Project overview video

The new MC features equipment to improve

healthcare and working conditions

• Medical Equipment

• Electricity Supply

• Climate Control

• Refrigerated Storage

• Lavatory Facilities

• Examination Bed

• Wall Storage Bin

A unique list of all the required medical

equipment was created for the MC

* Abbreviated List

Both a 12 VDC and a 220 VAC electrical

system are required

HVAC makes the MC a comfortable place to

work – winter or summer

Factory optional

additions to the

VW Crafter.

Thermoelectric coolers provide controlled

storage for vaccines and blood samples

A flushable chemical toilet alleviates the

nurse’s limited access to a lavatory

Proper examination of patients is

accomplished with an adjustable bed

Analysing pictures of MCs indicated that

this bin was important to nurses

The AHP assigns weights using relational

importance and matrix algebra

Comfort Drivability Misc. Weight (%)

Comfort 1 2 1.5 46.2

Drivability 0.5 1 0.75 23.1

Misc. 0.667 1.333 1 30.8

These three main categories were broken into

four different categories for each of the vehicles

Using the base data, a novel modeling method was

used to create a virtual population

Extrapolation of Anthropometric Measures to New Populations

Considered Generators:

Water System (Ideal)

Frame built with a Bosch-Rexroth System