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Insights & Solutions

Get the latest trends, tools, and resources for improving healthcare environments here. Browse our many free and members-only resources, including research reports and issue briefs, interviews, case studies, design strategies, lessons learned, key point summaries, and webinars.
    Webinar

    The Medical Behavioral Unit: Enhancing Patient Safety and Experience Through Design
    June 2018 ∘ Webinar ∘
    With no known precedent, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia pursued a vision to develop a new pediatric patient care unit: one that would meet the requirements and licensure of an acute care unit, but would provide a safe and supportive environment for patients with a comorbid developmental, behavioral, or psychiatric diagnosis. A multidisciplinary team worked together to envision, plan, and design an environment to support a new model of care for this unique population. Key elements of the project—a remodel of an existing unit—include patient, family, and staff health; circadian lighting; biophilic design; and safety.
    Tool

    Interactive Design Diagrams
    June 2018 ∘ Tool ∘

    Healthcare is provided in a variety of settings, from a person’s home to outpatient clinics, to the hospital. While the settings and specific design elements may differ across the continuum of care, the objectives of safety, efficiency, satisfaction, and high quality care remain constant. This set of interactive diagrams provides a link between the evidence base, design strategies, and desired outcomes – in a visually intuitive and actionable format.
    Interview

    The Design of a Psychiatric Clinic in Borås Sweden Strives to Create a "Healing" Environment, an interview with Stefan Lundin and Cristiana Caira
    February 2018 ∘ Interview ∘
    Learn about how the design of a new psychiatric facility strives to normalize mental illness through carefully chosen materials with the goal of creating a “homey,” non-institutional setting, why private patient rooms will be included in the new final building as an important part of the design concept, and how research helped shape the architects’ beliefs that the built environment should support patients’ dignity and independence as part of the recovery process.
    Interview

    Understanding the Unique Design Needs of Behavioral Health Facilities, an interview with James Hunt, AIA, NCARB
    February 2018 ∘ Interview ∘
    Inside you will learn about: why behavioral health facilities have very different design requirements than general hospitals; how different areas of a behavioral health unit have different safety needs that influence design choices; and which types of safety measures and products should be incorporated into behavioral health units.
    EBD Journal Club

    Lighting And Nurses At Medical–Surgical Units: Impact Of Lighting Conditions On Nurses’ Performance And Satisfaction
    July 2017 ∘ EBD Journal Club ∘
     

    Hadi, K., DuBose, J. R., & Ryherd, E. (2016). Lighting and Nurses at Medical–Surgical Units: Impact of Lighting Conditions on Nurses’ Performance and Satisfaction. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 9(3), 17-30.
    Interview

    How Building a Purposeful Environment Can Impact Assisted Living Residents, an interview with Kelley Hoffman
    April 2017 ∘ Interview ∘
    Learn about: the importance of using durable products and finishes in senior living environments, the key to designing a functional and effective senior living environment, and how manufacturers, designers, and industry leaders collaborate to improve the lives of the aging population.
    Design Strategies

    Design Strategies — Impact of Aging
    November 2016 ∘ Design Strategies ∘
    Aging often involves a multitude of changing needs and priorities. However, there are human needs and desires that remain constant throughout the life course. Design strategies for aging must not only address basic physiological and safety needs, but attend to higher-level human needs as well. The universal design approach is being adopted by many forward-thinking designers who aim to support equitable, flexible, and accessible environments for all users.  
    EBD Journal Club

    Tailored Lighting Intervention Improves Measures of Sleep, Depression and Agitation in Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Living in Long-term Care Facilities
    February 2015 ∘ EBD Journal Club ∘
    Figueiro et al. (2014). Tailored lighting intervention improves measures of sleep, depression, and agitation in persons with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia living in long-term care facilities. Dovepress, volume 2014:9, pages 1527-1537.
    Webinar

    Mitigate Falls Risk in Hospitals—Evidence-based Design Recommendations
    September 2013 ∘ Webinar ∘
    Patient falls are the most common adverse event reported in acute care settings, affecting from between 2% to 10% of annual hospital admissions. Patient falls cause increased morbidity, mortality, length of stay, and have significant cost impacts. One recent study examined the relationship of design factors in patient rooms to falls in 30 units in 15 hospitals. Results indicate key factors associated with higher numbers of falls, including multi-person rooms, shared toilet rooms, number and location of grab bars, and others. Explore the intrinsic and extrinsic factors on fall risk and the role design plays in mitigating these factors through real design solutions. 
    EDAC Advocate Firm Project

    El Paso Children's Hospital, El Paso, TX
    September 2012 ∘ EDAC Advocate Firm Project ∘
    The goal for this project was to establish the first separately licensed children’s hospital in the community of El Paso, Texas with an interior environment that is patient-centered, family focused, community accessible, culturally compatible and a magnet for the recruitment of pediatric medical staff.