Environmental transformations enhancing dignity in an acute psychiatric ward: Outcome of a user-driven service design project
2023
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 16
Pages 55-72
Author(s): Faerden, A., Rosenqvist, C., Håkansson, M., Strøm-Gundersen, E., Stav, Å., Svartsund, J., Røssæg, T., Davik, N., Kvarstein, E., Pedersen, G., Dieset, I., Nyrud, A. Q., Weedon-Fekjær, H., Kistorp, K. M.
Research shows that the concept of dignity within psychiatric health seclusion is reflected mainly in patient care delivery rather than the environmental components of a healthcare setting. Still common are sparsely furnished rooms, white paint, and limited access to natural light or views of the outdoors.
Added December 2022
The Role of the Physical Environment in the Hospital of the 21st Century: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity
2004
The Center for Health Design
Report
Author(s): Ulrich, R. S., Zimring, C., Quan, X., Joseph, A., Choudhary, R.
Added December 2022
The healthcare workspace: Understanding the role of decentralized nursing stations, corridors, and huddle spaces as locations for teamwork in a neonatal intensive care unit
2022
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 15
Pages 270-282
Author(s): Fay, L., Real, K., Haynes, S.
Neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) host fragile and vulnerable patients. Research studies on NICUs with a single-family room (SFR) layout demonstrate benefits to both neonates and their parents but the impact on staff remains unclear. The decentralization associated with SFRs may impair teamwork.
Added June 2022
Healthcare signage design: A review on recommendations for effective signing systems
2019
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 12
Pages 45-65
Author(s): Rodrigues, R., Coelho, R., Tavares, J. M. R. S.
Studies have shown that designing “patient-centric” healthcare environments can alleviate stress for both patient populations as well as healthcare staff members. Patient-centric designs carefully consider how patients will interact with the built environment, and how the built environment itself can work to make their healing process easier.
Added December 2018
Objective and subjective evaluation of psychiatric ward redesign
1984
The American Journal of Psychiatry
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 141
Pages 639-644
Author(s): Whitehead, C. C., Polsky, R. H., Crookshank, C., Fik, E.
At the time of this study, relatively little research had been done to explore the potential benefits of incorporating architectural designs geared specifically towards improved patient well-being in psychiatric treatment environments. A “psychoenvironmental” model incorporating therapeutic architectural designs into psychiatric healthcare environments was developed before the publication of this study; however, this particular model had not yet been examined empirically.
Added August 2018
Does the redesign of a psychiatric inpatient unit change the treatment process and outcomes?
2013
Psychiatric Services
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 64
Pages 804-807
Author(s): Urbanoski, K. A., Mulsant, B. H., Novotna, G., Ehtesham, S., Rush, B. R.
The overall “atmosphere” of a psychiatric treatment facility could be defined through the availability of patient autonomy and support from peers, the presence of aggressive behavior within the ward, and the general sense of ward organization and rule enforcement.
Added August 2018
Door locking and exit security measures on acute psychiatric admission wards: Door locking on admission wards
2011
Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 18
Pages 614-621
Author(s): Nijman, H., Bowers, L., Haglund, K., Muir-Cochrane, E., Simpson, A., Van Der Merwe, M.
Locked exit doors exist in psychiatric wards for various reasons. Sometimes regional legislation requires locked exits in these wards. At other times, these security measures are put in place in order to prevent patients from escaping a facility, to prevent unwelcome visits, to enhance the staff’s sense of control, or to improve overall patient and staff safety.
Added June 2017
Developing family rooms in mental health inpatient units: An exploratory descriptive study
2015
BMC Health Services Research
Journal Article
Author(s): Isobel, S., Foster, K., Edwards, C.
Adult inpatients receiving treatment at mental health facilities often wish to visit with family members. Indeed, previous research indicates that caregivers, consumers, and medical professionals agree that children of parents with mental illness (COPMI) should be able to spend time with their parents for the mutual benefit of both patients and families.
Added June 2017
The influence of hospital ward design on resilience to heat waves: An exploration using distributed lag models
2015
Energy and Buildings
Journal Article
Author(s): Iddon, C. R., Mills, T. C., Giridharan, R., Lomas, K. J.
Prolonged periods of uncharacteristically high outdoor temperatures (often referred to as “heat waves”) are correlated with increases in localized mortality rates. Hospitals have a responsibility to protect patient populations from harmful weather conditions, especially chronically ill patients that are vulnerable during prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
Added June 2017
Environmental Variables That Influence Patient Satisfaction: A Review of the Literature
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 10
Pages 155-169
Author(s): MacAllister, L., Zimring, C., Ryherd, E.
This paper is a literature review that compiles a number of studies investigating the layouts and designs of hospitals and work settings, and the influences that these environments have on health and behavioral outcomes in patients. More specifically, this review seeks to identify possible links between physical and social environmental influences to self-reported patient outcomes. The authors wish to more fully understand the elements that influence patient satisfaction, and then begin a discussion over how physical and social environments can be further analyzed to enhance satisfaction.
Added September 2016
Security Implications of Physical Design Attributes in the Emergency Department
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 9
Pages 50-63
Author(s): Pati, D., Pati, S., Harvey, T. E.
In this paper, the authors consider “security” a subset of “safety,” and note that security is imperative for providing efficient patient care, especially in emergency departments (EDs). Security is defined as the protection of people and property, while safety is defined as the broader concept of delivering patient care.
Added September 2016
Built environment instruments for walkability, bikeability, and recreation: Disability and universal design relevant?
2012
Disability and Health Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 5
Pages 87-101
Author(s): Gray, J. A., Zimmerman, J. L., Rimmer, J. H.
Added August 2016
Effects of an Assisted Living Facility Specifically Designed for Individuals with Memory Disorders: A Pilot Study
2014
Journal of Housing For the Elderly
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 28
Pages 399-409
Author(s): Springate, B. A., Talwar, A. K., Tremont, G.
A 2007 study estimated that 14% of individuals over the age of 71 have dementia, and many of those individuals require some level of support with daily life. Furthermore, many of these individuals eventually move to assisted living (AL) facilities or nursing homes as they begin to require more assistance. Many people choose AL facilities due to pricing or the desire to be assisted rather than nursed. Previous studies have indicated that the physical environment of nursing homes can influence the overall well-being of residents with dementia. However, relatively few studies have assessed the effects of AL facility environments on the well-being of dementia patients.
Added June 2016
Development and Use of Mobile Containment Units for the Evaluation and Treatment of Potential Ebola Virus Disease Patients in a United States Hospital
2015
Academic Emergency Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 22
Pages 616-622
Author(s): Sugalski, G., Murano, T., Fox, A., Rosania, A., Bogucki, S.
University Hospital was in a unique situation for the potential of receiving suspected Ebola patients from Newark (N.J.) International Airport. This situation led to the establishment of an Ebola treatment area (ETA) separate from the main hospital with easy access to hospital employees and equipment when needed. The ETA was built inside a pre-existing building that was empty on the first floor using Western Shelter Systems. This allowed the relatively quick erection of the unit without building a permanent unit.
Added June 2016
Meeting the Needs of Visually Impaired People Living in Lifetime Homes
2016
Journal of Housing For the Elderly
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 30
Pages 123-140
Author(s): Rooney, C., Hadjri, K., Rooney, M., Faith, V., McAllister, K., Craig, C.
Lifetime Homes standards (LTHS) are a group of mandatory public-sector housing design interventions used in the U.K. They attempt to provide a model that ensures adaptable and accessible homes for the entire duration of an occupant’s stay. Changes in one’s physical environment, much like the ones implemented by LTHS, could help reduce the impact of disabilities such as visual impairment, and could help give patients different degrees of communal living with some level of independence.
Added May 2016
Impact of the Physical Environment of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities (RHCSF) on Staff and Residents A Systematic Review of the Literature
2015
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 48
Pages 1203-1241
Author(s): Joseph, A., Choi, Y.-S., Quan, X.
Strategies related to the design of the built environment should be considered within the context of the culture of the organization and the resident population. This study of the physical environment of residential health, care, and support facilities addresses the range of settings and population, where other studies have been lacking. The literature review strongly suggests that the built environment is an important component of care provided in residential care settings.
Added May 2016
Evaluating intention and effect: The impact of healthcare facility design on patient and staff well-being
2016
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 9
Pages 82-104
Author(s): Alvaro, C., Wilkinson, A. J., Gallant, S. N., Kostovski, D., Gardner, P.
Added April 2016
Innovation Pilot Study: Acute Care for Elderly (ACE) Unit--Promoting Patient-Centric Care
2012
Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Author(s): Krall et al.
Older patients have different needs: cognitive impairment, chronic health issues, caregiver burden, and maintenance of functional level. These issues present challenges to healthcare organizations when caring for this population on a general medical-surgical unit.
Added January 2016
The Impact of an Acute Psychiatry Environment on Older Patients and Their Families
2014
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 20
Pages 1-7
Author(s): Hung, L., Loewen, E., Bindley, B., McLaren, D., Feist, T., & Phinney, A.
There is a lack of research that examines impact of the designed environment on the experience of older adults and their families in healthcare settings.
Added January 2016
Specialized Design for Dementia
2013
Perspectives in Public Health
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 133
Pages 151-158
Author(s): Habell, M.
Designing for people with dementia is a major need in elderly care buildings. However, it is difficult to design for this population, as the parameters of dementia itself are often vague. The author also notes that the registration requirements in the UK for a care home make no distinction between the type of dementia or the severity of the dementia.
Added January 2016
