Secondary exposure risks to patients in an airborne isolation room: Implications for anteroom design
2016
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Mousavi, E. S., Grosskopf, K. R.
Previous research has shown that negatively pressurized Airborne Infectious Isolation Rooms (AIIRs) can protect hospitals from fatal airborne pathogens such as tuberculosis. But this use of negative pressurization can simultaneously increase the chances of isolated patients contracting secondary infections, or healthcare-acquired infections (HAIs), caused by air blowing in from adjacent spaces. Research is needed to better assess the actual likelihood of secondary infections occurring in these scenarios so that steps can be taken to mitigate these risks.
Added December 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
Non-Pharmacological Interventions in Long-term Care: Feasibility and Recent Trends
2014
Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 40
Pages 10-14
Author(s): Fitzsimmons, S., Barba, B., Stump, M. & Bonner, E.
This article discusses the use of non-pharmacological interventions as part of an effort to minimize the negative effects of antipsychotic drug use on patients with cognitive impairment or perceived behavioral issues. Aspects of the built environment were included.
Added January 2016
Comparison between mixed and laminar airflow systems in operating rooms and the influence of human factors: Experiences from a Swedish orthopedic center
2014
American Journal of Infection Control
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 42
Pages 665-669
Author(s): Erichsen Andersson, A., Petzold, M., Bergh, I., Karlsson, J., Eriksson, B. I., Nilsson, K.
Added May 2016
Effects of surface material, ventilation, and human behavior on indirect contact transmission risk of respiratory infection
2014
Risk Analysis
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 34
Pages 818-830
Author(s): Sze‐To, G. N., Yang, Y., Kwan, J. K. C., Yu, S. C. T., Chao, C. Y. H.
Added April 2020
Experimental analysis of the transport of airborne contaminants between adjacent rooms at different pressure due to the door opening
2014
Building and Environment
Journal Article
Author(s): Fontana, L., Quintino, A.
Creating pressurization and depressurization spaces in hospitals is practiced to control airborne contamination. The authors indicate that the literature suggests that turbulence created by the opening and closing of doors between spaces of different pressure allows for the difference in pressure to be overcome and consequently for the transfer of contaminated air into the clean area.
Added May 2015
Post-Occupancy Evaluation of a Transformed Nursing Home: The First Four Green House Settings
2013
Journal of Housing For the Elderly
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 23
Pages 304-334
Author(s): Cutler, L. J., Kane, R. A.
To study how well the physical environments of four Green Houses® served the residents, staff, and visitors and to develop recommendations for similar small-house nursing home projects. Longitudinal post-occupancy evaluation of four houses using mixed-methods, including behavioral mapping, checklist ratings of individual bedrooms and bathrooms, place-centered time scans, environmental tracers,...
Added September 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
Physical Environment Provisions of USP “Pharmaceutical Compounding—Sterile Preparations”
2012
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Journal Article
Author(s): Beebe, C.
USP <797> reports standards and policies for all physical environments in which compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) are prepared, packaged, and stored. The standards apply specifically to people who prepare CSPs and must take care to reduce the risk of contamination from their behaviors, hygiene, and clothing (i.e., garb). Clinical workers whose work lies within this realm must be individually trained and evaluated to maintain the standards and reduce microbial contamination that results from contact.
Added September 2014
Physical Environment: The Major Determinant Towards the Creation of a Healing Environment?
2011
Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences
Journal Article
Volume 30
Pages 1951-1958
Author(s): Abbas, M. Y., Ghazali, R.,
Prior research suggests that the pediatric population’s heightened perception of the quality of the physical environment can have an impact on the creation of a healing environment.
Added April 2014
Building the evidence base for evidence-based design: Editors' introduction
2008
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 40
Pages 147-150
Author(s): Zimring, C., Bosch, S.
Added October 2012
Servicescape: Physical environment of hospital pharmacies and hospital pharmacists’ work outcomes
2008
Health Care Management Review
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 33
Pages 156-168
Author(s): Lin, B.Y.-J., Leu, W.-J., Breen, G.-M., Lin, W.-H.
Researchers have studied the healthcare work environment from a number of angles, from an organizational behavior perspective honing in on motivation and reward, to an occupational and environmental perspective concerned with comfort and ergonomics, to a pathogenic perspective interested in exposure to disease. The idea of a “servicescape” has arisen in healthcare marketing to investigate the impact of the physical environment of service settings on employees’ psychological states and perceptions.
Added February 2014
Buildings and Climate Change
Author(s): UNEP
Added October 2012
Thermal adaptation in the built environment: a literature review
1998
Energy and Buildings
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 27
Pages 83-96
Author(s): Brager, G., de Dear, R.
Added October 2012
Noise Levels in an Urban Hospital and Workers' Subjective Responses
1995
Archives of Environmental Health
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 50
Pages 247-251
Author(s): Bayo, M. V., Garcia, A. M., Armando, G.
Noise has become a major environmental problem as well as a public health concern, resulting in a wide range of negative consequences. Despite healthcare facilities’ attempts to foster favorable environments to assist in patient recovery and staff working conditions, noise levels are often higher than desirable in and around hospitals. There is a need to identify the main noisy areas and noise sources and evaluate the hospital staff’s reactions to noise.
Added April 2014
Nosocomial Transmission of Tuberculosis Associated with a Draining Abscess
1990
Journal of Infectious Diseases
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 161
Pages 286-295
Author(s): Hutton, M. D., Stead, W. W., Cauthen, G. M., Bloch, A. B., Ewing, W. M.
Nine secondary cases of tuberculosis and 59 tuberculin skin test conversions occurred after exposure to a hospitalized patient with a large tuberculous abscess of the hip and thigh. Among 442 tuberculin-negative hospital employees, the relative risk of skin test conversion associated with recalled exposure to the patient was 14.0 (95% confidence limits, 6.8, 28.7). Four of 5 surgical suite...
Added August 2012
Enhancing the traditional hospital design process: a focus on patient safety
March 2004
The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 30
Pages 115-24
Author(s): Reiling, J.G., Knutzen, B.L., Wallen, T.K., McCullough, S. , Miller, R., Chernos, S.
The current study is an overview of innovative system engineering and patient safety factors, named as the Synergy model that a hospital system utilized to design their new facility.
Added April 2014
