Insights & Solutions

Learn about: the current state of burnout in healthcare; the impact of burnout on clinicians, patients and organizations; and the role of the built environment in mitigating burnout.

This webinar will highlight research and design strategies to mitigate challenges to the aging eye and cognition. Presenters will explore how daylight and bright electric lighting is even more important, balanced with very low level, warm lighting at night. Think it’s a good idea to mimic trendy hospitality lighting in senior spaces? Think again. For health and safety, we need to dramatically change our design approach!  

This intensive and interactive workshop will explore new and evolving approaches to infection control through new design innovations, clinical methods, technologies, and protocols. Attendees will participate in an interactive forum lead by industry experts including infection preventionists, environmental services leaders, facility managers, industry partners, and design specialists and will explore the importance of integrating the available options to continually improve outcomes and mitigate the risk of infection. 

This virtual interactive, collaborative, problem-solving workshop is designed to project stakeholders (designers, facility executives, administrators, and care providers) to explore the key tenants of pre-fabrication and modular construction, how the benefits of “better, cheaper, faster” is balanced with quality and safety, and how design/build processes and budgets can be reframed from traditional healthcare design/build projects.

This one-day virtual workshop provides the latest in design thinking for a variety of behavioral health care and health settings and offers state-of-the-art best practices through thought leader presentations, case studies, and panel discussions. Attendees will have opportunities to pose questions to workshop faculty and interact with fellow attendees in fun and innovative ways.

Tseung, V., Verweel, L., Harvey, M., Pauley, T., Walker, J. (2022). Hospital outdoor spaces: User experience and implications for design

While outdoor views and spaces can positively impact patient and hospital staff outcomes, research is needed to understand how outdoor design might contribute to patient therapy in post-acute and rehabilitation care. Researchers used a pre-occupancy evaluation to interview patients, family, and staff involved with rehabilitation activities in the outdoor areas of an existing hospital to inform the design of a new facility. Researchers identified three overarching themes: outdoor spaces and views help patients focus on life beyond their illness, specific design elements should be considered when planning outdoor views and spaces, and deliberate design of outdoor spaces can promote rehabilitation. Design elements identified in this single-site study include: year-round visual access to the outdoors, a variety of plants, water, and wildlife; challenging grades that support therapy but do not create barriers for patients with mobility issues; safety stations and clear signage for trails or paths; and separate spaces for patients/families and staff.

Keys, Y., Stichler, J. F. (2018). Safety and Security Concerns of Nurses Working in the Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study

Safety and security are top priorities for healthcare organizations, and are especially important in areas where patients are at their most vulnerable, such as the intensive care unit (ICU). ICU nurses and providers have intense responsibilities when caring for complex patients and a safe and secure environment of care is necessary. There is very little research on how design of the ICU environment affects nurse perceptions of safety – safety for themselves and for other patients. In addition, the research that does exist is largely based on an assumption that ICUs are safe and secure places. The current study begins to test this assumption, and results suggest the following recommendations for ICU design: smaller unit sizes, the need for improved visibility, the ability to access alternate exits, including security controls for emergencies or threats, and providing adequate staffing.

The program will then focus on addressing the apparent conflicts by identifying some of the alleged conflicts.  Each conflict will then be discussed in detail looking at current code requirements, changes in more recent editions of the applicable codes, and looking at equivalencies or alternative methods that could be considered.  As with other design considerations, involvement of all the stakeholders will be illustrated as a key factor in achieving an acceptable level of life safety while meeting the needs of the patients and clinical staff in a behavioral health environment.  

Cheryl’s special guest today on the podcast is Sandy Goodman, IIDA, CHID, EDAC, LEED AP, LSSBB, and President of CRGA Design.