Natural Ventilation for the Prevention of Airborne Contagion
2007
PlOS Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 4
Pages e68
Author(s): Escombe, R.R., Oeser, C.I., Gilman, R.H., Navincopa, M., Martinez, C., Chacaltana, J., Rodriguez, R., Moore, D.J., Friedland, J.S., Evans, C.A.
Controlling the break of nosocomial infections is arguably the highest priority in hospitals. Institutional transmission of airborne infections, such as Tubercolosis (TB) are, additionally, a public health concern. This is particularly true for developing countries, or other resource-limited settings where protective measures such as negative-pressure isolation rooms, which have become the norm in more modern settings, are difficult to implement. The global statistics on TB are staggering at 1.8 million dealths a year.
Added October 2012
A Novel PACU Design for Noise Reduction
2008
Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 23
Pages 226-229
Author(s): Smykowski, L.
As redesign and renovation of patient care units occur, health care providers need to consider the importance of lowering environmental stressors. Noise in the hospital environment is one well documented problem, with detrimental effects to both patients and staff. The paper reviews the redesign of the organization's PACU that explored a unique floor plan to minimize noise and improve privacy.
Added October 2012
View Through a Window May Influence Recovery from Surgery
1984
Science
Journal Article
Issue 4647
Volume 224
Pages 420-421
Author(s): Ulrich, R.S.
Examined records on recovery after cholecystectomy of 46 patients admitted to a suburban hospital between 1972 and 1981 to determine whether assignment to a room with a window view of a natural setting might have restorative influences. Ss were matched in pairs according to sex, age, smoking or nonsmoking status, obese or normal weight status, year of surgery, and floor level (2nd or 3rd). Data...
Added October 2012
Physical environmental stimuli that turn healthcare facilities into healing environments through psychologically mediated effects: systematic review
2006
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 56
Pages 166-181
Author(s): Dijkstra, K., Pieterse, M., Pruyn, A.
Design features of healthcare spaces can be said to impact the health and well-being of patients either directly or indirectly. A direct influence of a design feature means that the impact is not mediated in any way and therefore has a direct effect on patients (e.g., germs sitting in a carpet surface). An indirect influence is one in which the environmental stimuli act through a psychological process of sensory perceptions (e.g., carpet may be perceived as a home environment and may decrease the patient’s stress). This paper is focused on finding research data that had an indirect influence.
Added October 2012
Ventilation of wards and nosocomial outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome among healthcare workers
2003
Chinese Medical Journal
Journal Article
Issue 9
Volume 116
Pages 1293-1297
Author(s): Jiang, S. P., Huang, L. W., Chen, X. L., Wang, J. F., Wu, W., Yin, S. M., Chen, W., Zhan, J., Yan, L., Ma, L., Li, J., Huang, Z.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus called SARS-associated coronavirus. The disease may cause flu-like symptoms including fever (100.4 F or higher), myalgia, lethargy symptoms, cough, and sore throat. Most patients may develop pneumonia. Environmental contamination is an important factor contributing to SRAS transmission.
Added August 2012
