The ICU saves lives every day, but many patients leave facing new challenges. Close to 70% of people who survive ICU admission develop mental health issues such as PTSD, anxiety, or depression linked to their stay.

The Critical Care Research Group, supported by The Common Good, has created the ICU of the Future. This project explores how the physical and sensory environment in ICU affects a patient’s emotional and psychological recovery. Their mission is simple: improve patient outcomes so people don’t just survive ICU, they thrive afterwards.

The Common Good, an initiative of The Prince Charles Hospital Foundation, directs 100% of public donations into research projects like this one, turning generosity into discoveries that transform lives.

Since 2014, Merlo has supported The Common Good with donations and hands-on involvement. We were proud to visit the Prince Charles Hospital to see a prototype of the ICU of the Future in action, a model designed to help patients recover both physically and mentally.

Revolutionising Patient Care

James Wilkinson, CEO of Merlo Coffee, met with Dr Stein Tronstad, physiotherapist and Project Manager of the Critical Care Research Group.

“From an ICU point of view, people come in and get treatment for their physical disorders, but we don’t really think of the impact of the ICU admission on their mental health,” explained Dr Stein.

Interviews with former patients revealed that many developed mental health problems after leaving ICU, issues they hadn’t faced before. To change this, the ICU of the Future has designed a new patient-focused environment called the Cocoon.

The Cocoon brings together personalised medicine, thoughtful technology, and best-practice architecture to reduce stressors such as noise, harsh lighting, and visual clutter. Lighting follows a natural day-night rhythm to support sleep, while acoustic treatments lower disruptive peaks so patients can rest and recover. Every detail is centred on the patient’s emotional and psychological wellbeing as well as their physical care.

At The Prince Charles Hospital, a full-scale Cocoon prototype now concentrates on both clinical needs and mental health. The layout streamlines workflows for staff, reduces sensory overload for patients, and creates a calmer, more supportive space for recovery. The aim is simple: help people not only survive ICU but leave better prepared to thrive.

To Survive and Thrive

The ICU environment saves lives, but it can also take a toll on patients’ mental health. Through patient interviews, Dr Stein and the research team identified several key stressors with the most significant being noise.

“Daytime sound levels in ICU are the same as putting a bed next to a busy freeway,” explained Dr Stein. “Peak levels can be as loud as power tools just metres away.”

For patients who are already critically unwell, these conditions make sleep and recovery incredibly difficult. Harsh lighting, bare walls, and constant exposure to medical equipment further add to sensory overload and emotional strain.

These challenges are not unique to Australia; they affect ICU patients worldwide. By identifying them, the Critical Care Research Group can develop solutions that improve long-term outcomes.

New approaches include technologies that lower noise at the source, soundproofing that reduces what patients hear, and lighting systems that mimic the natural rhythm of daylight. The Cocoon design also introduces visual features that give patients something calming and stimulating to focus on.

This shift in design puts emotional and psychological wellbeing at the centre of critical care, ensuring that patients are supported not just to survive ICU, but to recover and thrive afterwards.

Supporting Critical Medical Advancements

Since 2014, Merlo’s support has helped fund groundbreaking research projects like the ICU of the Future, work that has the potential to save countless lives.

At Merlo, we are more than coffee roasters and distributors. We are committed members of the community, passionate about building healthier, stronger, and more supportive connections. Coffee brings people together, and we believe in using that power to create positive change.

By combining our collective energy, we can sustainably fund medical discoveries that transform patient care.

Join us in creating a better tomorrow. Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or simply share the message, your support contributes to research that improves and saves lives.

To learn more about The Common Good and how you can support this important cause.