Effects of the physical environment on children and families in hospital-based emergency departments: A systematic literature review
2023
Journal of Environmental Psychology
Journal Article
Author(s): Gripko, M., Joseph, A., MohammadiGorji, S.
The emergency department (ED) environment is often a very stressful place, especially for young children and their families. Previous studies show that highly stimulating environments may increase anxiety. There are many complex relationships among the physical environment and healthcare outcomes in the emergency department, and themes in this study include control, positive distractions, family and social supports, and designing for a safe and comfortable experience.
Added February 2023
Efficacy of violet–blue light to inactive microbial growth
2022
Scientific Reports
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 12
Pages 20179
Author(s): Amodeo, D., Lucarelli, V., De Palma, I., Puccio, A., Nante, N., Cevenini, G., Messina, G.
Research demonstrates that certain lights have antimicrobial properties. Violet-blue light at 405 nm (VBL405) has a broad-spectrum effect on organisms that frequently cause hospital-acquired infections including Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, and various Mycobacterium.
Added November 2022
Ventilation performance evaluation of a negative-pressurized isolation room for emergency departments
2022
Healthcare
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 10
Pages 193
Author(s): Wang, F., Permana, I., Chaerasari, C., Lee, K., Chang, T., Rakshit, D.
Since the emergence of COVID-19, healthcare facilities are expected to be well equipped and flexible in their efforts to both treat patients and protect staff. Emergency Department (ED) isolation rooms are considered a potentially effective way to protect both staff and infected patients; however, further research is needed to understand how best to design an isolation room for an ED.
Added August 2022
Designing palliative care facilities to better support patient and family care: A staff perspective
2022
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 15
Pages 149–162
Author(s): McLaughlan, R., Richards, K., Lipson-Smith, R., Collins, A., Philip, J.
There are several factors that make palliative care unique, including longer lengths of stay, the number of visitors, and considerations around end-of-life care. Staff perceive that privacy, a homelike environment, and safety are important for their ability to provide comfort and support to both patients and families.
Added February 2022
Impact of distance on stroke inpatients’ mobility in rehabilitation clinics: a shadowing study
2021
Building Research & Information
Journal Article
Issue 1-2
Volume 50
Pages 74-88
Author(s): Kevdzija, M., Marquardt, G.
Failure to rehabilitate after experiencing a stroke frequently results in a patient’s admission to long-term care. There is a need to understand how size and spatial configuration of rehabilitation settings can support wayfinding and help patients overcome mobility barriers.
Added December 2021
Investigations of Staphylococcal contamination on environmental surfaces of a neonatal intensive care unit of a children's hospital
2021
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 49
Pages 1450-1453
Author(s): Keilman, R., Harding, S., Rowin, M., Reade, E., Klingborg, P., Levine, D., Spratt, H.
Staphylococcal, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), infections are pervasive in intensive care units (ICUs). However, little research focuses on areas of contamination within neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), even though Staphylococci can cause severe infection in infants.
Added July 2021
Preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the emergency department by implementing a separate pathway for patients with respiratory conditions
2021
Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 19
Pages 383-388
Author(s): Alqahtani, F., Alanazi, M., Alassaf, W., Aleanizy, F. S., Aljahany, M., Joseph, M., AlRaye, M.
Since the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare facilities have provided services to patients with suspected or confirmed cases of this and other highly contagious respiratory illnesses. In some areas, emergency departments (EDs) have become important resources for patient populations without other ways to access medical care.
Added June 2021
Evaluation of nosocomial infection control measures to minimize the risk of aspergillus dispersion during major demolition work: A case study of a Japanese university hospital
2021
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 14
Pages 58-74
Author(s): Nakanishi, Y., Kasahara, K., Koizumi, A., Tokutani, J., Yoshihara, S., Mikasa, K., Imamura, T.
Aspergillus species (spp), can be dispersed during activities such as construction, renovation, and demolition. The infection control risk assessment (ICRA) tool was developed in part to counteract the spread of infection in these situations.
Added May 2021
Intensive care unit built environments: A comprehensive literature review (2005–2020)
2021
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 14
Pages 368-415
Author(s): Verderber, S., Gray, S., Suresh-Kumar, S., Kercz, D., Parshuram, C.
ICUs have been extensively studied regarding the role of the built environment in issues of patient safety and infection control, patient-staff outcomes, and the interventional role of the physical environment. The results of this comprehensive literature review (2005-2020) demonstrate an increase in design of single-bed ICUs, increase in the engagement of families in the ICU experience, acknowledgement of improving caregiver well-being, performance through designing staff amenities, increased attention to the therapeutic role of exposure to nature and lighting, and increased pandemic concerns related to containment of the COVID-19 virus.
Added May 2021
Air Care: an ‘aerography’ of breath, buildings and bugs in the cystic fibrosis clinic
2020
Sociology of Health and Illness
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 42
Pages 972-986
Author(s): Brown, N., Buse, C., Lewis, A., Martin, D., Nettleton, S.
Research in medical humanities works on hospital architecture demonstrates the historical significance of spatial design for airflow and air exchange from the pre-antibiotic period until the present. The spatial and atmospheric design of hospitals is conceived while paying attention to the prevention of the spread of airborne infections, e.g., cystic fibrosis (CF).
Added April 2020
An assessment of a hybrid lighting system that employs ultraviolet-A for mitigating healthcare-associated infections in a newborn intensive care unit
2020
Lighting Research & Technology
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 52
Pages 704-721
Author(s): Brons, J. A., Bierman, A., White, R., Benner, K., Deng, L., Rea, M. S.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect approximately one in 25 patients in the US. One study found that an average of fewer than 50% of patient room surfaces are properly cleaned, making infection spread more easily. This study explores the use of a no-touch decontamination method that employs hybrid lighting technology with both white light and UV-A optical radiation.
Added February 2020
Particle control reduces fine and ultrafine particles greater than HEPA filtration in live operating rooms and kills biologic warfare surrogate
2020
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Ereth, M. H., Hess, D. H., Driscoll, A., Hernandez, M., Stamatatos, F.
Modern buildings tend to feature more insulation and tighter building envelopes, which can increase concentrations of indoor pathogens, particles, and pollutants. This can lead to higher rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), making the control of indoor air quality critically important.
Added January 2020
Understanding nurses’ workflow: Batching care and potential opportunities for transmission of infectious organisms, a pilot study
2019
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 10
Volume 47
Pages 1213-1218
Author(s): Gregory, L., Weston, L. E., Harrod, M., Meddings, J., Krein, S. L.
Hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE) strategies are employed to prevent disease transmission in the contact precaution room. Studies revealed that precautionary measures perceived as overwhelming required more time in patient care and required changes in workflow.
Added December 2019
Use of an automated hand hygiene compliance system by emergency room nurses and technicians is associated with decreased employee absenteeism
2020
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 48
Pages 575-577
Author(s): Strauch, J., Braun, T. M., Short, H.
The relationship between hand hygiene intervention and absenteeism has been studied in other contexts besides healthcare. Researchers examined how improving hand hygiene practices among emergency room (ER) nurses and technicians affected their absenteeism and overtime hours worked by substitute staff.
Added December 2019
Impact of sink location on hand hygiene compliance for Clostridium difficile infection
2015
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 43
Pages 387-389
Author(s): Zellmer, C., Blakney, R., Van Hoof, S., Safdar, N.
Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a common health complication arising within medical environments that can place noticeable strain on healthcare systems. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has provided hand hygiene guidelines for mitigating these infections following contact during an outbreak situation; however, various barriers may prevent compliance with these hand hygiene guidelines.
Added November 2019
Hospitalization-associated disability: “She was probably able to ambulate, but I’m not sure”
2011
JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association
Journal Article
Issue 16
Volume 306
Pages 1782–1793
Author(s): Covinsky, K. E., Pierluissi, Edgar, Johnston, C. B.
It is not uncommon for older patients who are hospitalized to acquire hospital-associated disabilities (HAD). An HAD is defined as losing the ability to complete one of the basic activities of daily living (ADL) needed to live independently without assistance: bathing, dressing, rising from bed or a chair, using the toilet, eating, or walking across a room.
Added April 2019
The influence of spatial configuration on the frequency of use of hand sanitizing stations in health care environments
2017
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Author(s): Neo, J. R. J., Zadeh, R.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) affect over 1.7 million people each year, and subsequently cost the U.S. economy approximately $8.2 billion each year. Hand hygiene compliance (HHC), which involves washing hands thoroughly with alcohol-based rubs or soap and water, is widely regarded as a major prevention measure against the transmission of pathogens that cause HAIs.
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
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
Environment of care: Is it time to reassess microbial contamination of the operating room air as a risk factor for surgical site infection in total joint arthroplasty?
2017
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 11
Volume 45
Pages 1267-1272
Author(s): Parvizi, J., Barnes, S., Shohat, N., Edmiston, C. E.
Operating rooms (ORs) typically are equipped with several layers of defense against the spread of airborne contaminants (also known as airborne microbial populations) that can lead to surgical site infections (SSIs) in patients undergoing surgical procedures that involve device implantation.
Added June 2018
