Hospital design and face-to-face interaction among clinicians: a theoretical model
2009
Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 2
Pages 62-84
Author(s): Rashid, M.
Current research focusing on collaboration between medical professionals has shown the importance of face-to-face interactions on patient and staff outcomes. However, most strategies for increasing these interactions among clinicians have focused on operational changes that are intended to facilitate a cultural change within the organization. This research looks to examine how the physical design of a healthcare facility can create opportunities for face-to-face interactions between clinicians through spatial programs and structure.
Added November 2014
The Effect of Environmental Design on Reducing Nursing Errors and Increasing Efficiency in Acute Care Settings: A Review and Analysis of the Literature
2009
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 41
Pages 755-786
Author(s): Chaudhury, H., Mahmood, A., Valente, M.
In acute care settings, the physical environment plays an important role in staff efficiency and patient safety. Some research suggests that poor environments can result in staff stress, anxiety, and distractions due to noise; artificial lighting; improper or inadequate ventilation; and disorienting layouts of nursing units. There is less research on how environmental factors affect nursing staff health, effectiveness, errors, and job satisfaction.
Added April 2014
Using a Task Analysis to Describe Nursing Work in Acute Care Patient Environments
2009
Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 39
Pages 537-547
Author(s): Battisto, D., Pak, R., Vander Wood, M. A., Pilcher, J. J.
A growing body of research demonstrates linkages between workplace design and processes in healthcare facilities with staff and patient safety, operational efficiency, staff satisfaction, and medical errors. There has been less emphasis on the role of the built environment in helping or hindering care delivery. Research is needed on the contextualized activities performed by nurses and how nurses spend their time to measure the effects of interventions aimed at redesigning care to improve safety or efficiency or to understand the implications of policy changes for nursing practice.
Added April 2014
Falls and Patient Mobility in Critical Care: Keeping Patients and Staff Safe
Issue 3
Volume 20
Pages 267-276
Author(s): Flanders, S. A., Harrington, L., Fowler, R. J.
A main priority in hospitals in the U.S. is ensuring both patient and staff safety throughout a patient’s stay. Falls are a major concern in hospitals, particularly in critical care units (ICUs), where nurses care for increasingly older populations that are prone to falls and injuries from falls. Another issue that arises in intensive care units is the decision of when it is safe to mobilize patients, a relevant consideration in relation to incidence of falls and durations of hospital stay.
Added March 2014
Effects of two hospital bed design features on physical demands and usability during brake engagement and patient transportation: A repeated measures experimental study
2009
International Journal of Nursing Studies
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 46
Pages 317-325
Author(s): Kim, S., Barker, L. M., Jia, B., Agnew, M. J., Nussbaum, M. A.
Healthcare work is physically demanding and often results in work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Most research in this area has focused on patient-handling techniques during activities that require direct patient contact, such as patient transfer. But healthcare providers perform other patient-handling tasks as well, such as engaging bed brakes and transporting patients in beds. These activities could also contribute to WMSDs.
Added January 2014
Lumbar spine forces during manoeuvring of ceiling-based and floor-based patient transfer devices
2009
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 52
Pages 384-397
Author(s): Marras, W.S., Knapik, G.G., Ferguson, S.
Patient handling is an important concern in healthcare facilities linked to patient falls, as well as staff injury. It continues to represent a high risk for low back pain among caregivers. Research shows that manual transfer of patients can impose unacceptable loads on the spine (even when the task is shared by two caregivers). Due to this, patient lift devices have gained popularity and are frequently used. However the merits and demerits between the different systems continues to be explored.
Added October 2012