Adapting to Family-Centered Hospital Design: Changes in Providers’ Attitudes over a Two-Year Period
2009
Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 3
Pages 79-96
Author(s): France, D., Throop, P., Joers, B., Allen, L., Parekh, A., Rickard, D., Deshpande, J.
Although hospitals are being designed based on evidence-based design principles, it’s unclear how working in such an environment influences providers’ attitudes and professional performance.
Added January 2016
The Design of Adult Acute Care Units in U.S. Hospitals
2009
Journal of Nursing Scholarship
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 41
Pages 79-86
Author(s): Catrambone, C., Johnson, M. E., Mion, L. C. & Minnick, A. F.
In 2005, the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ) publicized a commissioned report about hospital environments (Nelson, West, & Goodman, 2005). The report included a summary of all published research (N=328 reports) about those environments and patient and staff outcomes, including safety, satisfaction, and efficiency, as well as clinical outcomes.
Added January 2016
The Influence of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Design on Sound Level
2009
Pediatrics & Neonatology
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 50
Pages 270-274
Author(s): Chen, H.-L., Chen, C.-H., Wu, C.-C., Huang, H.-J., Wang, T.-M., Hsu, C.-C.
Preterm infants receiving care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are especially susceptible to adverse effects caused by excessive noise. Previous studies indicate that the physical designs of NICUs themselves hold a large influence over the overall noise level.
Added July 2015
Exploring the Impact of the Physical Environment on Patient Outcomes in Ambulatory Care Settings
2009
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 2
Pages 21-41
Author(s): Gulwadi, G., Joseph, A., Keller, A.
Recent trends in healthcare have seen a shift in treating episodic care within acute care environments to ambulatory care centers (ACCs). These facilities distribute care based upon prevention and wellness to combat chronic disease and provide care management. Ambulatory care environments consist of a broad platform of care settings and deliver many types of care to a wide range of populations. Due to these and other complexities, research linking the impact of the physical design of ACCs on patient health outcomes has yet to be documented.
Added September 2014
Environmental Issues Related to Medication Errors in Long-Term Care: Lessons From the Literature
2009
HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 2
Pages 42-59
Author(s): Mahmood, A., Chaudhury, H., Gaumont, A.
Medication errors contribute significantly to patient illness and mortality and are costly to the healthcare system. This is especially true for elderly patients in long-term care facilities. While the specific definition of medication error often varies from study to study, these errors typically occur when a physician's orders, the manufacturer's guidelines, or professional best practices in drug, dose, route, or timing are not properly followed. They can arise during ordering, dispensing, or administering medication.
Added September 2014
The Effect of Environmental Design on Reducing Nursing Errors and Increasing Efficiency in Acute Care Settings: A Review and Analysis of the Literature
2009
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 41
Pages 755-786
Author(s): Chaudhury, H., Mahmood, A., Valente, M.
In acute care settings, the physical environment plays an important role in staff efficiency and patient safety. Some research suggests that poor environments can result in staff stress, anxiety, and distractions due to noise; artificial lighting; improper or inadequate ventilation; and disorienting layouts of nursing units. There is less research on how environmental factors affect nursing staff health, effectiveness, errors, and job satisfaction.
Added April 2014
Clinical review: The impact of noise on patients’ sleep and the effectiveness of noise reduction strategies in intensive care units
2009
Critical Care
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 13
Pages 208–216
Author(s): Xie, H., Kang, J., Mills, G. H.
The World Health Organization recommends that noise levels in hospitals stay below 30 dBA at night to allow for better rest, yet excessive noise is prevalent in many healthcare settings, including intensive care units (ICUs). Research indicates that, since the 1960s, noise levels in hospitals increased by an average of 0.38 dBA (day) and 0.42 dBA (night) per year. Other research reports that the noise level in ICUs ranges from 50 to 75 dBA, with a night peak level soaring to 103 dBA. It’s easy to see why sleep disturbance is common among these vulnerable patients.
Added February 2014
Falls Aren't Us: State of the Science
2009
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 32
Pages 116-127
Author(s): Cozart, H. T., Cesario, S. K.
Falls among the elderly can cause serious injury and sometimes even be fatal. However, in healthcare settings, many of these accidents can be avoided with fall-prevention interventions. The ninth goal of The Joint Commission is environmental intervention and addresses safety features such as patients’ introduction to hospital surroundings, appropriate lighting and noise reduction, call alarms, as well as reachable and available grab rails.
Added January 2014
Using Rapid Assessment to Evaluate Noise on an In-Patient Unit
2009
Journal of Nursing Care Quality
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 24
Pages 27-32
Author(s): Deitrick, L.M., Kennedy, P., Cyriax, C., Davies-Hathen, N.
Research shows that many hospitals are noisy from a variety of sources: people, environment, and machines. Further, this excessive noise can have negative effects on patients and staff including lost sleep, higher blood pressure, lower overall patient satisfaction, increased readmission rates, and increased employee stress levels.
Added January 2014