starting from the ground up: how innovative hospital designs are profoundly affecting health...

UPStartingfrom theGround

How Innovative Hospital Designs are Profoundly Affecting Health Outcomes

By Judy Wang

Every November,

Top medical faculties,policymakers,and healthcare analystsgather at theUS. News Hospital of Tomorrow Conference

The means to improve hospital facility designs was emphasized in the

2013 panel“Designing

Hospitals for 21st Century Care”.

FACILITY DESIGN

HEALTH OUTCOMES

One point discussed....

More than 1500 studies have demonstrated that

improved hospital designs mean

medical errors, infections, &

patients’ stress.

For example,Natural light can have

healing benefits in reducing depression

For example,

Scenes from nature can have a psychological effect of

relieving pain

Upon considering this evidence,

Princeton University Hospital

re-engineered rooms with larger window panels to

emphasize outdoor views of woods and rivers.

Another point during the 2013 Hospitals of Tomorrow Conference:

hospital rooms that can

integrate family and children interaction.

For example,

creating a space where children can use

colored lights to decorate their rooms

For example,

creating a space where children can play

with shades on window panels

Efficient hospital designs

also drive up performance of medical staff.

An associate professor from Rush University reported studies

demonstrating a

in time nurses spend in a patient’s room after

re-engineering the nursing station and room spaces.

50% BOOST

healthcare facility design, health outcomes, &patient satisfaction

The dynamic interaction between

is incredibly important to consider.

Credits“Congress” icon by Martha Ormiston“Link” icon by Matthew Exton“Down” icon by John Chapman“Sun” icon by Nina Sandgaard Rasmussen“Tree” icon by vleenie“People” icon by Monika Ciapala“Light Bulb” icon by Jens Tärning“Window” icon by Joe Harrison

from the Noun Project Collection