Daylight and health: A review of the evidence and consequences for the built environment
2015
Lighting Research & Technology
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 47
Pages 6-27
Author(s): Aries, M. B. C, Aarts, M. P. J., van Hoof, J.
This paper is an overview of studies on the effects of daylight exposure on human health.
Added December 2019
Impact of sink location on hand hygiene compliance for Clostridium difficile infection
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 43
Pages 387-389
Author(s): Zellmer, C., Blakney, R., Van Hoof, S., Safdar, N.
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common health complication arising within medical environments that can place noticeable strain on healthcare systems. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has provided hand hygiene guidelines for mitigating these infections following contact during an outbreak situation; however, various barriers may prevent compliance with these hand hygiene guidelines.
Added November 2019
‘I want to feel at home’: establishing what aspects of environmental design are important to people with dementia nearing the end of life
2015
BMC Palliative Care
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 14
Pages 26
Author(s): Fleming, R., Kelly, F., Stillfried, G.
As the global population of elderly patients seeking end-of-life care increases, greater attention is being placed on how healthcare environments can work to best provide these patients with the most positive and life-enriching experiences possible.
Added November 2018
Guidelines for the design of a healing garden for the rehabilitation of psychiatric patients
2015
Journal of Agricultural Engineering
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 46
Pages 43-51
Author(s): Erbino, C., Toccolini, A., Vagge, I., Ferrario, P. S.
Healing gardens can be defined as plant-populated areas designed to support and improve patient health and well-being. Previous studies have indicated that healing gardens are effective tools for improving physical and mental health in patients, families, and staff, ultimately leading to reduced care costs and general quality of life.
Added March 2018
Impact of a novel interventional platform and hospital design on the door-to-balloon time in patients presenting with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.
2015
Critical Pathways In Cardiology
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 14
Pages 39-43
Author(s): Poulin, M.-F., Appis, A., Purim-Shem-Tov, Y., Schaer, G. L., Snell, J.
A “heart attack” is usually identified among cardiologists as an “ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction”. Fast and effective care is a necessity when treating patients suffering from heart attacks, and the unit of measurement used by hospital administrators and cardiologists to gauge how long a patient has been inside the hospital before receiving heart attack treatment with a catheter guidewire or “balloon” is called “door-to-balloon” or DTB time.
Added December 2017
Environment in pediatric wards: Light, sound, and temperature
2015
Sleep Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 9
Volume 16
Pages 1041-1048
Author(s): Oliveira, L., Gomes, C., Bacelar Nicolau, L., Ferreira, L., Ferreira, R.
Sleep is crucial to the well-being of humans, especially so for the recovery of those undergoing treatment or recuperating in hospitals. The authors cite studies that allude to the relevance quality of sleep has on health, neurodevelopment, generally, and to immune functioning and healing in patients.
Added November 2017
Hesitation and error: Does product placement in an emergency department influence hand hygiene performance?
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 9
Volume 43
Pages 913-916
Author(s): Stackelroth, J., Sinnott, M., Shaban, R. Z.
Previous research has thoroughly established the important role proper hand hygiene plays in reducing and controlling healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Nonetheless, previous studies also show that poor hand hygiene practices remain common in both public and private hospitals. In order to promote effective hand hygiene habits within healthcare environments, designers focus on ensuring that hand hygiene products are easily available and accessible.
Added July 2017
Developing family rooms in mental health inpatient units: An exploratory descriptive study
2015
BMC Health Services Research
Journal Article
Author(s): Isobel, S., Foster, K., Edwards, C.
Adult inpatients receiving treatment at mental health facilities often wish to visit with family members. Indeed, previous research indicates that caregivers, consumers, and medical professionals agree that children of parents with mental illness (COPMI) should be able to spend time with their parents for the mutual benefit of both patients and families.
Added June 2017
Consumer perspectives on the therapeutic value of a psychiatric environment
2015
Journal of Mental Health
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 24
Pages 63-67
Author(s): Donald, F., Duff, C., Lee, S., Kroschel, J., Kulkarni, J.
Many contemporary mental illness treatment models accept the notion that social inclusion and a sense of community can support patient recovery. “Permeable institutions” employ community integration as part of their recovery models.
Added June 2017
Field Observations into the Environmental Soul: Spatial Configuration and Social Life for People Experiencing Dementia
2015
American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease & Other Dementias
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 30
Pages 209-218
Author(s): Ferdous, F., Moore, K. D.
Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) serving people with dementia are often designed with visiting family members or friends in mind rather than the needs of the patients themselves. The authors suggest that architectural designs within LTCFs should be considered from the perspective of the patients occupying these environments.
Added June 2017
A Systematic Review of Mixed Methods Research on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care
2015
Applied ergonomics
Journal Article
Author(s): Carayon, P., Kianfar, S., Li, Y., Xie, A., Alyousef, B., Wooldridge, A.
This paper presents a systematic review of studies dealing with human factors and ergonomics (HFE) issues in both healthcare technology and in the work of healthcare employees. The researchers employ a mixed methods approach, meaning their review incorporates studies that use both quantitative and/or qualitative data during different stages of the research process.
Added June 2017
The influence of hospital ward design on resilience to heat waves: An exploration using distributed lag models
2015
Energy and Buildings
Journal Article
Author(s): Iddon, C. R., Mills, T. C., Giridharan, R., Lomas, K. J.
Prolonged periods of uncharacteristically high outdoor temperatures (often referred to as “heat waves”) are correlated with increases in localized mortality rates. Hospitals have a responsibility to protect patient populations from harmful weather conditions, especially chronically ill patients that are vulnerable during prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
Added June 2017
Unweaving the human response in daylighting design
2015
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Andersen, Marilyne
The term “daylighting” can be broadly defined as the amount of natural light that is present within a given space due to its structural makeup. Structural designs that allow for certain levels of daylighting may have a positive impact on energy use, since lighting is one of the most energy-demanding building functions.
Added June 2017
Designing Team Rooms for Collaboration In The Outpatient Clinics
Author(s): DuBose, J., Lim, L., Westlake, R.
Healthcare systems in the U.S. are gradually shifting from “episodic” care delivered in silos to more team-oriented and coordinated approaches. Ambulatory care environments in particular are adopting the Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model, which is an integrated, team-based model designed to optimize treatment and management of patients.
Added April 2017
Modeling environmental contamination in hospital single- and four-bed rooms
2015
Indoor Air
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 25
Pages 694-707
Author(s): King, M-F, Noakes, C J, Sleigh, P A
Healthcare workers (HCWs) coming in contact with contaminated surfaces in patient rooms can potentially transmit pathogens from one patient to another. However, the authors contend, there is little evidence in literature to indicate the association between contact with contaminated surfaces, transmission of pathogens, and patient room design.
Added December 2016
Eight Years of Data on Residents in Small Dementia-Care Settings Suggest Functional Performance Is Maintained
2015
Journal of Housing For the Elderly
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 29
Pages 298-328
Author(s): Milke, D. L., Leask, J., George, C., Ziolkowski, S.
The authors of this study note the impact of a home-like environment on the cognitive decline of dementia patients.
Added November 2016
Individualizing hospital care for children and young people with learning disabilities: it's the little things that make the difference
2015
Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 30
Pages 78-86
Author(s): Oulton, K., Sell, D., Kerry, S., Gibson, F.
People with learning disabilities (LDs) represent one of the largest groups with a lifelong disability, reaching nearly 60 million people worldwide. In England alone, it is estimated that 1.5 million people live with an LD, 286,000 of them being children and young people ages 0-17. It has been found that those with LD have more hospital admissions and greater hospital stays than those children without.
Added November 2016
The ability of environmental healthcare design strategies to impact event related anxiety in pediatric patients: A comprehensive systematic review
Author(s): Norton-Westwood, D.
Healthcare settings such as hospitals or dentists’ offices have been known to contribute to the anxiety often experienced by patients receiving treatment. Anxiety has been linked to various health concerns, manifesting both physiologically and psychologically, that can result in prolonged hospital stays and other complications.
Added June 2016
Impact of Neonatal Intensive Care Bed Configuration on Rates of Late-Onset Bacterial Sepsis and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization
2015
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 36
Pages 1173-1182
Author(s): Julian, S., Burnham, C.-A., Sellenriek, P., Shannon, W. D., Hamvas, A., Tarr, P. I., Warner, B. B.
Late-onset infections are a continuing issue, causing notable levels of morbidity and mortality in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), while also increasing the length of patient stay and financial burdens on healthcare institutions. Few previous studies have tested the hypothesis that infants in single-patient rooms have a lower risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization, late-onset sepsis, and death.
Added June 2016
Development and Use of Mobile Containment Units for the Evaluation and Treatment of Potential Ebola Virus Disease Patients in a United States Hospital
2015
Academic Emergency Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 22
Pages 616-622
Author(s): Sugalski, G., Murano, T., Fox, A., Rosania, A., Bogucki, S.
University Hospital was in a unique situation for the potential of receiving suspected Ebola patients from Newark (N.J.) International Airport. This situation led to the establishment of an Ebola treatment area (ETA) separate from the main hospital with easy access to hospital employees and equipment when needed. The ETA was built inside a pre-existing building that was empty on the first floor using Western Shelter Systems. This allowed the relatively quick erection of the unit without building a permanent unit.
Added June 2016
