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Knowledge Repository

A complete, user-friendly database of healthcare design research references MoreLess about the Knowledge Repository

The Knowledge Repository is a complete, user-friendly database of healthcare design research references that continues to grow with the latest peer-reviewed publications. Start with our Knowledge Repository for all of your searches for articles and research citations on healthcare design topics. Access full texts through the source link, read key point summaries, or watch slidecasts. Expand your search and find project briefs, interviews, and other relevant resources by visiting our Insights & Solutions page.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 37

A Recovery-Oriented Care Approach: Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Newly Built Mental Health Facility

Author(s): Ahern, C. C., Bieling, P., McKinnon, M. C., McNeely, H. E., Langstaff, K.
An inpatient mental health hospital was renovated with a newly built environment that incorporated patient-centered, clinically informed designs in an attempt to improve overall safety and quality of care. The new designs were considerably expensive and had extensive design implications for other parts of the hospital outside of the mental health facility.
Key Point Summary
Added June 2016

Prevention by Design: Construction and Renovation of Health Care Facilities for Patient Safety and Infection Prevention

Author(s): Olmsted, Russell N.
Added September 2016

Separate Medication Preparation Rooms Reduce Interruptions and Medication Errors in the Hospital Setting: A Prospective Observational Study

Author(s): Huckels-Baumgart, S., Baumgart, A., Buschmann, U., Schüpfer, G., Manser, T.
Errors and interruptions are commonplace during medication preparation procedures in healthcare environments. One study found that one interruption occurred for every 3.2 drugs administered during nurses’ medication rounds.
Key Point Summary
Added December 2016

Radiation Safety in Designing of Health Care Facilities

Author(s): Telichenko, V., Dorogan, I.
Added November 2017

To see or not to see: Investigating the links between patient visibility and potential moderators affecting the patient experience

Author(s): Bosch, S. J., Apple, M., Hiltonen, B., Worden, E., Lu, Yi, Nanda, U., Kim, D.
The amount of visibility between patients and nursing staff contributes significantly to the balance between feelings of security and autonomy. Hospitals in which patients are in constant view of the staff can create a sense of restricted freedom, but high visibility can also be associated with higher levels of patient safety. There has been ongoing debate within the medical community as to how a perfect balance between security and autonomy can be implemented. This study took place at a hospital with a radial nursing unit.
Key Point Summary
Added April 2016

Reducing hospital noise with sound acoustic panels and diffusion: a controlled study

Author(s): Farrehi, P. M., Nallamothu, B. K., Navvab, M.
Ambient noise is a well-known source of stress in healthcare environments. Hospitals have employed methods such as shielding patients with closed doors, altering staff behaviors, and moving equipment, but these approaches can disrupt workflows and do not address the realities of sound generation within hospitals.
Key Point Summary
Added March 2017

Suicide risk and absconding in psychiatric hospitals with and without open door policies: A 15 year, observational study

Author(s): Huber, C. G., Schneeberger, A. R., Kowalinski, E., Fröhlich, D., von Felten, S., Walter, M., Zinkler, M., Beine, K., Heinz, A., Borgwardt, S., Lang, U. E.
Suicides and absconding by inpatients are both situations that present serious challenges for medical institutions. For this reason, many psychiatric wards use permanently locked doors to help promote patient safety.
Key Point Summary
Added June 2017

Towards Healing Environment for the Inpatient Unit in Psychiatric Hospital

Author(s): Ramadan, M. G.
Previous research shows that physical designs within healthcare environments play a key role in promoting patient well-being. The design of a given healthcare facility directly affects the efficiency with which care is delivered, as well as affecting the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of its staff members.
Key Point Summary
Added June 2017

The relationship between the quality of the built environment and the quality of life of people with dementia in residential care

Author(s): Fleming, R., Goodenough, B., Low, L.-F., Chenoweth, L., Brodaty, H.
Over the last 35 years there have been studies pertaining to the benefits of facilities designed for people with dementia. In recent years literature has also indicated that quality of life (QoL) is related to different levels of cognitive functioning and activities of dementia patients in care homes. The authors, however, indicate that these studies were inadequate in providing a clear picture...
Key Point Summary
Added October 2017

Exploring staff perceptions on the role of physical environment in dementia care setting

Author(s): Lee, S. Y., Chaudhury, H., Hung, L.
Person-centered care is spreading into environments for the elderly population, particularly those with dementia. It is a philosophy of care recognizing that each person has an equal right to dignity, respect, and to participate in their environment (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2011; Brooker & Surr, 2005). Recently, attention in the literature has been paid to studying the impact the built...
Key Point Summary
Added October 2017

Integrated Framework for Patient Safety and Energy Efficiency in Healthcare Facilities Retrofit Projects

Author(s): Mohammadpour, A., Anumba, C. J., Messner, J. I.
Added August 2018

Healing environments: What design factors really matter according to patients? An exploratory analysis

Author(s): Schreuder, E., Lebesque, L., Bottenheft, C.
Six themes that may contribute to healing environments: spatial comfort, safety and security, autonomy, sensory comfort, privacy, and social comfort were identified from the literature. This Netherlands-based study evaluated how the six themes and associated design characteristics could be prioritized to maximize well-being. Each theme was described.
Key Point Summary
Added August 2018

Well-Being and Safety among Inpatient Psychiatric Staff: The Impact of Conflict, Assault, and Stress Reactivity

Author(s): Kelly, E. L., Fenwick, K., Brekke, J. S., Novaco, R. W.
Added August 2018

Implementation of a front-end split-flow model to promote performance in an urban academic emergency department

Author(s): Wiler, J. L., Ozkaynak, M., Bookman, K., Koehler, A., Leeret, R., Chua-Tuan, J., Ginde, A. A., Zane, R.
Added July 2019

Higher Quality of Care and Patient Safety Associated With Better NICU Work Environments

Author(s): Lake, E. T., Hallowell, S. G., Kutney-Lee, A., Hatfield, L. A., Del Guidice, M., Boxer, B. A., Ellis, L. N., Verica, L., Aiken, L. H.
Infants undergoing treatment in neonatal intensive care units or NICUs are among those patients who are most susceptible to negative outcomes pertaining to quality and safety. The authors note that the central catheters, which are so crucial to a neonate, are often the source for nosocomial infections.
Key Point Summary
Added November 2015

Is single room hospital accommodation associated with differences in healthcare-associated infection, falls, pressure ulcers or medication errors? A natural experiment with non-equivalent controls

Author(s): Simon, M., Maben, J., Murrells, T., Griffiths, P.
Previous studies have associated single-patient rooms with reduced infection rates, reduced medication errors, and faster patient recovery rates. In response, an increasing number of hospitals have been shifting towards an entirely single-patient room layout. Although there are plenty of studies from the U.K. providing empirical evidence for the efficacy of single-patient rooms, the United States lacks this foundation of published research, and could therefore benefit from an outcome analysis of single-patient rooms.
Key Point Summary
Added February 2016

Environmental factors and their association with emergency department hand hygiene compliance: an observational study

Author(s): Carter, E. J., Wyer, P., Giglio, J., Jia, H., Nelson, G., Kauari, V. E., Larson, E. L.
Adherence to proper hand hygiene procedures has been repeatedly shown to help prevent healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Emergency departments (EDs) often experience environmental conditions such as crowding and subsequently end up using non-traditional patient care areas such as hallways to administer treatment. It is possible that the use of non-traditional patient care areas contributes to lower levels of hand hygiene compliance.
Key Point Summary
Added March 2016

Visitor characteristics and alcohol-based hand sanitizer dispenser locations at the hospital entrance: Effect on visitor use rates

Author(s): Hobbs, M. A., Robinson, S., Neyens, D. M., Steed, C.
Proper hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures in the effort to prevent transmission of nosocomial pathogens in clinical settings. Previous studies have shown how healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) could be traced back to the spread of germs from hospital employees, patients, and visitors. While there is a large body of research on improving hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers, there is a lack of similar studies aimed towards compliance among hospital visitors.
Key Point Summary
Added March 2016

Shaping the slats of hospital patient room window blinds for daylighting and external view under desert clear skies

Author(s): Sherif, A., Sabry, H., Wagdy, A., Mashaly, I, Arafa, R.
Many previous studies have shown how natural lighting can contribute to the healing nature of a hospital’s environment by reducing patient fatigue, stress, and length of stay. Desert locations are often characterized by continually clear skies, making control of the sunlight even more essential to patient satisfaction. It is therefore important to determine the optimal shape of window blind slats so that discomfort can be reduced without compromising levels of illumination.
Key Point Summary
Added April 2016

Managing Patient Falls in Psychiatric Inpatient Units: Part 1

Author(s): Abraham, S.
A significantly higher number of patient falls occur in hospital inpatient psychiatric units than in medical-surgical areas, resulting in issues with overall patient safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers patient falls a concern to society due to the safety issues they pose and financial strains they can cause for institutions.
Key Point Summary
Added April 2016