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The Effect of Environmental Design on Reducing Nursing and Medication Errors in Acute Care Settings

Habib Chaudhury, Ph.D. and Atiya Mahmood, Ph.D.
The Center for Health Design CHER Research Committee, November 2007

Listen to the Principal Investigators describe their research.

Executive Summary

It has been estimated that approximately 44,000 Americans die in hospitals each year as a result of preventable medical errors (Kohn et al., 2000a). The estimated national costs of preventable adverse events has been estimated to be $17 billion. A comprehensive review of the empirical literature followed up with interviews with nurses at seven hospitals - four in the Pacific Northwest and three that have been noted as providing enhanced efficiency.

The study concludes with specific recommendations about environmental interventions that can support the reduction of errors in the nursing unit. Read the full abstract.

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