Destination Bedside
2012
The Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 42
Pages 256-265
Author(s): Watkins, N., Kennedy, M., Lee, N., O’Neill, M., Peavey, E., DuCharme, M., & Padula, C.
Patient-centered care (PCC) has been at the core of healthcare reform. Improvements and advancements in Healthcare Information Technology (HIT), Electronic Health Records and inpatient unit layout have been some means that aim to achieve PCC. Also key to PCC is the alleviation of medical errors, which HIT and related technology can help achieve.
Added January 2016
The single-patient room in the NICU: maternal and family effects
2012
Journal of Perinatology
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 32
Pages 545-551
Author(s): Pineda, R. G., Stransky, K. E., Rogers, C., Duncan, M. H., Smith, G. C., Neil, J., Inder, T.
The authors allude to the references in literature about the stress associated with being the parent of an infant in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Indicating that the physical environment of a NICU may afford the possibility of alleviating such stress, the authors present the findings of this study which aimed to explore the relationship between the type of NICU room (single-patient versus open bay), parental practices and maternal health.
Added July 2015
Impacts of indoor daylight environments on patient average length of stay (ALOS) in a healthcare facility
2012
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Choi, J.-H., Beltran, L. O., Kim, H.-S.
One of the components that increases the quality of the indoor environment in hospitals is window views with access to daylight. The orientation of a window can be significant to the amount of daylight a room can get. This study examined the indoor environments of patient rooms located on different sides of a hospital building to investigate the impact of daylight on the length of stay.
Added March 2015
Designing for distractions: a human factors approach to decreasing interruptions at a centralised medication station
2012
BMJ Quality & Safety
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 21
Pages 939-947
Author(s): Colligan, L., Guerlain, S., Steck, S. E., Hoke, T. R.
According to the authors, literature indicates that interruptions during the administration of medication in healthcare settings can lead to errors, and that such errors are likely to cause more harm in pediatric settings. The medication station in the study hospital is centrally located with an open design targeted to reduce nurse walking and increase time with patients.
Added December 2014
Pediatric inpatient falls and injuries: a descriptive analysis of risk factors.
2012
Journal for Specialists in Pediatric Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 17
Pages 10-18
Author(s): Schaffer, P. L., Daraiseh, N. M., Daum, L., Mendez, E., Lin, L., Huth, M. M.
Falls are the leading cause of nonfatal injuries treated in emergency departments in the United States. Children’s falls have the potential for injury and other negative patient outcomes (e.g., increased length of hospital stay and increased costs). To prevent these fall occurrences and injury outcomes, a comprehensive assessment of the factors surrounding falls in hospitalized children is essential to developing best-practice interventions.
Added November 2014
The antimicrobial efficacy of copper alloy furnishing in the clinical environment: a crossover study
2012
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 33
Pages 3-9
Author(s): Karpanen, T. J., Casey, A. L., Lambert, P. A., Cookson, B. D., Nightingale, P., Miruszenko, L., Elliott, T. S.
Environmental hygiene has been regarded as one of the key areas in the prevention of HCAIs (healthcare associated infections) in hospital and acute care settings. Copper and its alloys have recently been considered for use in the healthcare environment as an antimicrobial surface material, and in 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency approved the registration of copper and its alloys as antimicrobial materials. The main aim of this study was to determine whether copper incorporated into hospital ward furnishings and equipment can reduce their surface microbial load.
Added September 2014
Promoting walking among older adults living in retirement communities
2012
Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 20
Pages 379-394
Author(s): Rosenberg, D. E., Kerr, J., Sallis, J. F., Norman, G. J., Calfas, K., Patrick, K.
The authors tested the feasibility and acceptability, and explored the outcomes, of 2 walking interventions based on ecological models among older adults living in retirement communities. An enhanced intervention (El) was compared with a standard walking intervention (SI) among residents in 4 retirement facilities (N = 87 at baseline; mean age = 84.1 yr). All participants received a walking...
Added September 2014
The healthcare environment through the eyes of a child - Does it soothe or provoke anxiety?
2012
International Journal of Nursing Practice
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 18
Pages 7-11
Author(s): Norton-Westwood, D.
Research has shown that the hospital environment can be distressing to a child. However, introducing design features that spark a child’s imagination can help to reduce anxiety.
Added May 2014
Traffic Flow in the Operating Room: An Explorative and Descriptive Study on Air Quality During Orthopedic Trauma Implant Surgery
2012
Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 40
Pages 750-755
Author(s): Andersson, A.E., Bergh, I., Karlsson, J., Eriksson, B.I. MD, Nilsson,K.
Three main strategies exist to prevent surgical site infections following surgery: 1) the patient, 2) the surgical technique, 3) the surgical environment. This study focuses on optimizing the effect of the surgical environment in preventing SSIs (surgical site infections). The authors attempt to understand that the protective potential of operating room (OR) ventilation under different conditions is crucial to optimizing the surgical environment.
Added April 2014
Quality Physical Environment in Paediatric Wards: Designer’s Creation Versus Users’ Satisfaction
2012
Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences
Journal Article
Author(s): Ghazali, R., Abbas, M. Y.
Prior research has revealed that an optimal healing environment can enhance a child’s quality of life by supporting the healing process. However, little has been done to identify specific design features within an optimal healing environment that either impede or aid the healing process.
Added April 2014
Medical Gas Cylinder and Bulk Tank Storage
2012
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Monograph
Author(s): McLaughlin, S., Dagenais, D.
There are particular requirements for storing medical gas cylinders as well as requirements for bulk tank storage in healthcare settings; these regulatory requirements exist specifically for cylinders that are not in use. In use refers to cylinders being used by a patient, or attached to equipment and ready for immediate use, or located in patient rooms about to be used. Requirements vary depending on the total amount of cubic feet of gas needing to be stored, with the most stringent regulations for more than 3,000 cubic feet of gas, less stringent requirements for 300-3,000 cubic feet of gas, and the least stringent requirements for less than 300 cubic feet of gas. These requirements are in place to reduce the risk of accident and injury.
Added March 2014
Implementing a Pediatric Obesity Care Guideline in a Freestanding Children’s Hospital to Improve Child Safety and Hospital Preparedness
2012
Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 27
Pages 707–714
Author(s): Porter, R. M., Thrasher, J, Krebs, N. F.
Over the past three decades, the number of children who are overweight has grown, with the greatest increase among those categorized as severely obese. Providing healthcare for these children is complicated, yet there is little information about the patient, provider, and institutional needs for the severely obese pediatric patient.
Added February 2014
Impact of Visual Art on Patient Behavior in the Emergency Department Waiting Room
2012
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 43
Pages 172–181
Author(s): Nanda, U., Chanaud, C, , Nelson, M., Zhu, X., Bajema, R., Jansen, B. H.
Wait times have been reported to be one of the most important concerns for people visiting emergency departments (EDs). Additionally, distrust between the patients and staff of the hospital, patients’ consistent focus on their status, and an uncertainty about the waiting time have been identified as contributors to patient anxiety, fear, confusion, and annoyance. Affective states significantly impact perception of wait time and may be impacted by environmental interventions, such as art depicting nature that has been shown to reduce stress levels and anxiety.
Added October 2012