Particle control reduces fine and ultrafine particles greater than HEPA filtration in live operating rooms and kills biologic warfare surrogate
2020
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Ereth, M. H., Hess, D. H., Driscoll, A., Hernandez, M., Stamatatos, F.
Modern buildings tend to feature more insulation and tighter building envelopes, which can increase concentrations of indoor pathogens, particles, and pollutants. This can lead to higher rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), making the control of indoor air quality critically important.
Added January 2020
Understanding nurses’ workflow: Batching care and potential opportunities for transmission of infectious organisms, a pilot study
2019
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 47
Pages 1213-1218
Author(s): Gregory, L., Weston, L. E., Harrod, M., Meddings, J., Krein, S. L.
Hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) strategies are employed to prevent disease transmission in the contact precaution room. Studies revealed that precautionary measures perceived as overwhelming required more time in patient care and required changes in workflow.
Added December 2019
Use of an automated hand hygiene compliance system by emergency room nurses and technicians is associated with decreased employee absenteeism
2020
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 48
Pages 575-577
Author(s): Strauch, J., Braun, T. M., Short, H.
The relationship between hand hygiene intervention and absenteeism has been studied in other contexts besides healthcare. Researchers examined how improving hand hygiene practices among emergency room (ER) nurses and technicians affected their absenteeism and overtime hours worked by substitute staff.
Added December 2019
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
The Usefulness of Bright Light Therapy for Patients after Oesophagectomy
2011
Intensive and Critical Care Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 27
Pages 158-166
Author(s): Ono, H., Taguchi, T., Kido, Y., Fujino, Y., Doki, Y.
While the use of light therapy in healthcare settings has been shown to be effective for the adjustment of the sleep-awake rhythm, it has not been applied to postoperative patients.
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
Medication error trends and effects of person-related, environment-related and communication-related factors on medication errors in a paediatric hospital
2019
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 55
Pages 320-326
Author(s): Manias, E., Cranswick, N., Newall, F., Rosenfeld, E., Weiner, C., Williams, A., Wong, I. C. K., Borrott, N., Lai, J., Kinney, S.
Previous studies have found that children receiving care in pediatric facilities can face a high risk of medication errors due to a combination of person-related, communication-related, or environment-related factors. This study further examines how environment-related factors specifically influence medication errors.
Added November 2019
New architectural design of delivery room reduces morbidity in preterm neonates: a prospective cohort study
2016
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 16
Pages 63
Author(s): Terrin, G., Conte, F., Scipione, A., Aleandri, V., Di Chiara, M., Bacchio, E., Messina, F., De Curtis, M.
A multidisciplinary committee of experts from different healthcare and architectural organizations has suggested that the delivery room (DR) should be connected to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) via a pass-through door.
Added September 2019
Effects of adjustable dynamic bedroom lighting in a maternity ward
2019
Journal of Environmental Psychology
Journal Article
Author(s): Canazei, M., Pohl, W., Weninger, J., Bliem, H., Weiss, E. M., Koch, C., Berger, A., Firulovic, B., Marth, C.
This study considered the impact of dynamic vs. static lighting color and intensity on mothers who had scheduled C-section deliveries of healthy babies in a single Austrian maternity clinic.
Added July 2019
Hospitalization-associated disability: “She was probably able to ambulate, but I’m not sure”
2011
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal Article
Issue 16
Volume 306
Pages 1782–1793
Author(s): Covinsky, K. E., Pierluissi, Edgar, Johnston, C. B.
It is not uncommon for older patients who are hospitalized to acquire hospital-associated disabilities (HAD). An HAD is defined as losing the ability to complete one of the basic activities of daily living (ADL) needed to live independently without assistance: bathing, dressing, rising from bed or a chair, using the toilet, eating, or walking across a room.
Added April 2019
The effect of a non-talking rule on the sound level and perception of patients in an outpatient infusion center
2019
PLOS ONE
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 14
Pages 1-15
Author(s): Zijlstra, E., Hagedoorn, M., Krijnen, W. P., van der Schans, C. P., Mobach, M. P.
The World Health Organization has recommended that noise in patient care areas be limited to support healing. The authors of this study explore the effect of a behavioral intervention aimed at reducing conversational noise in the context of an outpatient infusion center and its result on patient perceptions.
Added March 2019
Exploring the Effects of Clinical Exam Room Design on Communication, Technology Interaction, and Satisfaction
2019
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 12
Pages 99-115
Author(s): Zamani, Z., Harper, E. C.
The use of electronic health records (EHRs) in exam rooms is common, but research assessing the impact of EHRs on the exam experience is mixed. Limited research for healthcare design suggests exam room layouts can influence patient-provider interactions through improved information sharing.
Added February 2019
Diagnostic Post-Occupancy Evaluation of the Landscape Environments in a Primary Care Clinic: Environmental and Social Performances
Author(s): Jiang, S., Staloch, K., Kaljevic, S.
Healthcare facilities around the world are increasingly employing evidence-based designs like therapeutic gardens to more positively affect the lives of patients as well as the general state of the natural environment itself.
Added December 2018
The experience of person-centred practice in a 100% single-room environment in acute care settings – a narrative literature review
2018
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 13-14
Volume 28
Pages 2369-2385
Author(s): Kelly, R., Brown, D., McCance, T., Boomer, C.
The increasing number of single-patient rooms in healthcare facilities around the world indicates a heightened focus on person-centered practice (PcP). This practice considers how the workflows and physical designs within healthcare environments influence the overall experiences of patients and staff alike.
Added December 2018
The influence of spatial configuration on the frequency of use of hand sanitizing stations in health care environments
2017
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Neo, J. R. J., Zadeh, R.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect over 1.7 million people each year, and subsequently cost the U.S. economy approximately $8.2 billion each year. Hand hygiene compliance (HHC), which involves washing hands thoroughly with alcohol-based rubs or soap and water, is widely regarded as a major prevention measure against the transmission of pathogens that cause HAIs.
Added December 2018
The effect of vertical split-flow patient management on emergency department throughput and efficiency
2018
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 9
Volume 36
Pages 1581-1584
Author(s): Garrett, J. S., Berry, C., Wong, H., Qin, H., Kline, J. A.
In some emergency departments (EDs), the severity of a patient’s condition is rated on a 5-point scale during admission using the Emergency Service Index (ESI). Under the “split-flow” model of patient triaging, patients with less-severe conditions (rated an ESI 4 or 5) are “fast tracked” so that they can be separated from patients with higher ESI scores, allowing for more efficient resource allocation for all patient treatment procedures.
Added December 2018
Introduction of a horizontal and vertical split flow model of emergency department patients as a response to overcrowding
2018
Journal of Emergency Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 44
Pages 345-352
Author(s): Wallingford, G., Joshi, N., Callagy, P., Stone, J., Brown, I., Shen, S.
Hospital emergency departments (EDs) strive to optimally organize patient flow so that optimal care can be delivered while patient length of stay is minimized. The emergency severity index (ESI) is a 5-point scale used to help medical staff discern the severity of patient conditions; higher ESI scores indicate less-severe medical conditions.
Added December 2018
Human factors considerations in designing for infection prevention and control in neonatal care – findings from a pre-design inquiry
2018
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 61
Pages 169-184
Author(s): Trudel, C., Cobb, S., Momtahan, K., Brintnell, J., Mitchell, A.
As healthcare environments are being more frequently redesigned to improve patient experiences and provider operations, it becomes increasingly important that healthcare providers themselves understand how these new designs are intended to be utilized. Giving healthcare providers a deeper understanding of the functions and purposes underlying important healthcare design decisions could help reduce potential operational errors or staff frustrations.
Added December 2018
Understanding Wayfinding Experience of Hospital Visitor through Tours and Maps Analysis
Author(s): Mustikawati, T., Yatmo, Y. A., Atmodiwirjo, P.
Hospitals are complex environments full of many visitors, staff members, and patients. This kind of environment can make simple navigation difficult for visitors in particular.
Added December 2018
A regional survey on residents’ preferences on patient-centered medical home design in rural areas
2019
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 12
Pages 187-205
Author(s): Cai, H., Spreckelmeyer, K., Mendenhall, A., Li, D., Holmes, C., Levy, M.
The patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is a delivery model for primary care that is characterized by the recognition of unique patient needs while providing accessible services, a focus on safety and quality, comprehensive care, and coordinated care.
Added December 2018
