Family members´ experiences of the end-of-life care environments in acute care settings – a photo-elicitation study
2018
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being
Journal Article
Author(s): Hajradinovic, Y., Tishelman, C., Lindqvist, O., Goliath, I>
Research demonstrates that environmental features in varied healthcare settings can impact patient and staff outcomes. Room occupancy, acoustic environment, visual contact with nature, sound and lighting, ergonomics, and the work environment design are among the features with documented impacts on staff and patient health.
Added April 2020
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 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
Influencing building design in care for older people
2018
British Journal of Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 20
Volume 27
Pages 1188-1191
Author(s): Southey, S. R.
This article describes the author’s efforts to better understand aspects of design tailored to elderly patients seeking emergent care in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Added November 2018
Design lessons from the analysis of nurse journeys in a hospital ward
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 11
Pages 116-129
Author(s): Nazarian, M., Price, A., Demian, P., Malekzadeh, M.
This article outlines a method that was used to determine how nurses travel in the corridor and common spaces of a single nursing unit.
Added November 2018
Field investigation of ambulatory clinic exam room design with respect to computing devices: A pilot study
Author(s): Saleem, J. J., Weiler, D. T., Satterly, T., Nussbaum, M. A., Chumbler, N. R., Fischer, G. M., Rehman, S. U.
Previous studies have shown that electronic health record (EHR) systems can help enhance patient-staff interactions in ambulatory care environments. However, there is no clear method for how best to integrate EHR technology into these environments.
Added October 2018
The influence of spatial design on team communication in hospital emergency departments
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 12
Pages 100-115
Author(s): Naccarella, L., Raggatt, M., Redley, B.
Hospital emergency departments (EDs) are often high-intensity, busy, and complex environments treating especially sensitive patient populations in a time-sensitive manner. The nature of ED environments places added emphasis on the importance of clear communication between staff members and how the overall design of an ED might impact these interactions.
Added September 2018
Effects of Emergency Department Physical Design Elements on Security, Wayfinding, Visibility, Privacy, and Efficiency and its Implications on Staff Satisfaction and Performance
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 12
Pages 72-88
Author(s): Zamani, Z.
While it is commonly known that emergency departments (EDs) are often challenging and stressful work environments, it is less understood how the physical design of the ED environment contributes to staff performance and satisfaction, especially in the context of five important subtopics: security, visibility, wayfinding, privacy, and efficiency.
Added September 2018
Pilot study to measure wheelchair users’ space requirements in the bathroom
2018
Journal of Enabling Technologies
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 12
Pages 129-140
Author(s): Morales, E., Gamache, S., Routhier, F., Rousseau, J., Doyle, O.
In healthcare facilities around the world, many construction codes pertaining to building accessibility standards for patients using mobility devices (such as wheelchairs) have remained unchanged despite the introduction of newer mobility devices and changing patient demographics.
Added September 2018
Sink-Related Outbreaks and Mitigation Strategies in Healthcare Facilities
2018
Current Infectious Disease Reports
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 20
Pages 42
Author(s): Parkes, L. O., Hota, S. S.
Hand hygiene activities, such as simple handwashing procedures within designated sinks, have been regarded as an effective way to prevent infections for over a century. As hospitals increase in size and are expected to provide treatment to increasingly large patient populations in the future, hand hygiene protocols and sink designs should be continually assessed so that rates of infection remain as minimal as possible.
Added August 2018
Designing interiors to mitigate physical and cognitive deficits related to aging and to promote longevity in older adults: A review
2018
Gerontology
Journal Article
Author(s): Engineer, A., Sternberg, E. M., Najafi, B.
As the global population of elderly people increases, healthcare providers and designers alike are faced with the question of how to continually optimize the design of healthcare environments so that a high quality of life is upheld.
Added August 2018
Legibility of floor plans and wayfinding satisfaction of residents in Care and Attention homes in Hong Kong
2018
Australasian Journal on Ageing
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 37
Pages E139-E143
Author(s): Tao, Y., Gou, Z., Lau, S. S.-Y., Lu, Y., Fu, J.
This study takes place in Hong Kong, where “Care and Attention” homes are defined as healthcare facilities treating patients with moderate mental and physical impairments. Hong Kong’s high population density directly affects healthcare infrastructure; accordingly, this study focuses on a high-density, high-population Care and Attention home.
Added August 2018
The role of the built environment and private rooms for reducing central line-associated bloodstream infections
2018
PLOS ONE
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 13
Pages 12
Author(s): O’Neill, L., Park, S.-H., Rosinia, F.
Private patient rooms in hospital environments are widely considered a helpful defense against healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). However, the ways in which private rooms might help mitigate specific kinds of HAIs, such as central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), remain unclear and relatively unexplored.
Added August 2018
The Role of Hospital Design in Reducing Anxiety for Pediatric Patients
2018
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 11
Pages 66-79
Author(s): Cartland, J., Ruch-Ross, H. S., Carr, L., Hall, A., Olsen, R., Rosendale, E., Ruohonen, S.
Since the 1960s, researchers have been studying the psychological trauma experienced by children receiving treatment in hospitals. Previous studies have observed instances of post-traumatic stress disorder, increased aggression, separation anxiety, and disrupted patterns of sleep in children discharged from hospitals.
Added July 2018
The impact of windows on the outcomes of medical intensive care unit patients
2018
International Journal of Gerontology
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 12
Pages 67-70
Author(s): Chiu, W.-C., Chang, P.-S., Hsieh, C.-F., Chao, C.-M., Lai, C.-C.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the positive impact that natural lighting can have on patient experiences, both in terms of overall mood and even overall recovery time. Exposure to regular rhythms of natural lighting can positively influence human sleeping patterns, which can play a large role in supporting positive moods and timely recoveries.
Added July 2018
Door openings in the operating room are associated with increased environmental contamination
2018
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 46
Pages 954-956
Author(s): Perez, P., Holloway, J., Ehrenfeld, L., Cohen, S., Cunningham, L., Miley, G. B., Hollenbeck, B. L.
Opening doors during surgical procedures, which occurs increasingly often when more staff members are occupying an operating room, can lead to higher amounts of bacteria that may pose health risks to patients and operational issues for institutions.
Added May 2018
The Influence of Traffic, Area Location, and Other Factors on Operating Room Microbial Load
2018
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 39
Pages 391-397
Author(s): Taaffe, K., Lee, B., Ferrand, Y., Fredendall, L., San, D., Salgado, C., Shvorin, D., Khoshkenar, A., Reeves, S., Realizing Improved Patient Care through Human-Centered Design in the Operating Room (RIPCHD OR) Study Group
Traffic movement in hospitals causes disturbances and helps spread microbiota. Operating rooms (OR) can have surgical site infections (SSI) that are dangerous and can result in complications for patients.
Added April 2018
