Outpatient clinic layout design accounting for flexible policies
Author(s): Vahdatzad, V., Griffin, J.
Added January 2017
Separate Medication Preparation Rooms Reduce Interruptions and Medication Errors in the Hospital Setting: A Prospective Observational Study
2016
Journal of Patient Safety
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 17
Pages e161-e168
Author(s): Huckels-Baumgart, S., Baumgart, A., Buschmann, U., Schüpfer, G., Manser, T.
Errors and interruptions are commonplace during medication preparation procedures in healthcare environments. One study found that one interruption occurred for every 3.2 drugs administered during nurses’ medication rounds.
Added December 2016
A Scoping Literature Review of Dementia-Friendly Hospital Design
2016
The Gerontologist
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 57
Pages e62-e74
Author(s): Parke, B., Boltz, M., Hunter, K. F., Chambers, T., Wolf-Ostermann, K., Adi, M. N., Feldman, F., Gutman, G.
Added December 2016
The physical environment, activity and interaction in residential care facilities for older people: a comparative case study
2016
Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 31
Pages 727-738
Author(s): Nordin, S., McKee, K., Wallinder, M., von Koch, L., Wijk, H., Elf, M.
Added December 2016
Secondary exposure risks to patients in an airborne isolation room: Implications for anteroom design
2016
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Mousavi, E. S., Grosskopf, K. R.
Previous research has shown that negatively pressurized Airborne Infectious Isolation Rooms (AIIRs) can protect hospitals from fatal airborne pathogens such as tuberculosis. But this use of negative pressurization can simultaneously increase the chances of isolated patients contracting secondary infections, or healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), caused by air blowing in from adjacent spaces. Research is needed to better assess the actual likelihood of secondary infections occurring in these scenarios so that steps can be taken to mitigate these risks.
Added December 2016
"Let's Sit Forward": Investigating Interprofessional Communication, Collaboration, Professional Roles, and Physical Space at EmergiCare
2016
Health Communication
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 31
Pages 1506-1516
Author(s): Dean, M., Gill, R., Barbour, J. B.
Due to the fact that emergency department (ED) caregivers are constantly involved in interprofessional, knowledge-intensive conversations, effective modes of communication necessarily play a key role in promoting patient health and safety. Previous studies have explored how the physical environment directly affects modes of communication, and how these two dimensions of the healthcare environment constantly intersect with each other.
Added August 2016
Exploring Environmental Variation in Residential Care Facilities for Older People
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 10
Pages 49-65
Author(s): Nordin, S., McKee, K., Wijk, H., Elf, M.
Added June 2016
Design to improve visibility: Impact of corridor width and unit shape
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 9
Pages 35-49
Author(s): Hadi, K., Zimring, C.
Added June 2016
Route complexity and simulated physical ageing negatively influence wayfinding
2016
Applied Ergonomics
Journal Article
Author(s): Zijlstra, E., Hagedoorn, M., Krijnen, W. P., van der Schans, C. P., Mobach, M. P.
In this study, “wayfinding” is defined as determining and following a path or route between an origin and a destination. Wayfinding can be particularly difficult in complex and sometimes stressful environments like hospitals, and as hospitals continue to expand to meet increasing healthcare demands, their layouts face the possibility of becoming more difficult to navigate. Wayfinding is particularly difficult for the elderly, who may have memory issues and weakened physical abilities. Support from the environment is necessary to help elderly people function at their best, so it is important to understand what elements of the designed environment either benefit or confuse them.
Added May 2016