Healthcare Design - April 2024 - 38

IN F O CUS
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Beyond the arrival experience, it's important to consider the needs of patients
who may be staying in the hospital for hours, days, or weeks at a time.
Access to natural light and views of nature become highly desired, mitigating
feelings of being " trapped " indoors while also regulating patient's
natural circadian rhythm. Despite this preference, access to daylight is often
limited by a variety of factors that are outside of the designer's control,
from limited floor plans and square footage to lack of available windows. To
address these, facilities can implement customizable lighting options that
replicate daylight artificially. This technology, often controlled through
newly integrated mobile apps and bedside interfaces, allows patients to
control light levels according to their preferences.
The introduction of personalized controls with systems that provide options
for warm/cool lighting, climate, featured artwork, and flexible décor
is also growing in popularity. These advanced control interfaces are becoming
more streamlined and affordable for healthcare facilities to implement,
enabling patients to determine which atmosphere they find most
comfortable and conducive to individual healing. Patient rooms equipped
with interactive smart TVs and bedside tablets that offer access to information
and entertainment further upgrade the overall stay and contribute to
a positive experience.
There is also potential for future technological integration, where patient
profiles and preferences are automatically adjusted upon arrival
based on previous visits. The key is to ensure that technology remains userfriendly
and seamless, easily connecting to a patient throughout their healing
journey, both prior to entering care as well as after they return home.
SUPPORTING THE CARE TEAM
Designing spaces that aid in the daily lives of patients and healthcare providers
is essential for ensuring continued high-quality care. Technological
solutions, such as electronic health records, mobile communication
apps, and smart devices effectively streamline workflows and empower
healthcare professionals to deliver more efficient care, improving nurses'
station organization and reducing the need for storage in tighter floor
plans. These innovations also equip teams and patient families with additional
tools and transparency to better support the patient, honing in on
the ways in which technology can influence both processes and the built
environment to put the needs of all occupants at the forefront.
Beyond that, cultivating healing environments that alleviate anxiety
also improves the broader work environment for healthcare providers.
Improving staff retention includes prioritizing design elements that support
their daily work. Typically, there are two approaches to arranging
staff in patient treatment areas: an axle-and-spoke-type model, where
staff are central and can multitask while monitoring more than one
patient, or a decentralized approach, in which staff move around to check
on a few patients at a time with more touchdown spots.
Technology that helps reduce staff step count could be an improvement.
For example, if the patient room has camera or telehealth capabilities,
including a microphone, nurses could check in with the patient from
somewhere other than at the bedside. As technology continues to evolve,
caretakers may be able to get updates and communicate from a mobile device
rather than a desktop computer hub, allowing for monitoring while
completing other necessary tasks.
It's equally important to provide dedicated areas for respite and refuge,
where staff can rest and regroup during long shifts. The implementation
of hospitality-driven design strategies creates dedicated areas for rest,
allowing caregivers to decompress away from patient-facing zones.
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