Hospitals and health systems are focusing more on the design of their facilities to improve quality of care, patient experience and outcomes, according to an article published on the American Hospital Association website.
Here are four ways hospitals are using architecture to improve care and experience.
1. Adaptable patient rooms: Several hospitals are investing in adaptable rooms that allow them to convert standard patient rooms into ICU-level areas in or into specialty treatment spaces for orthopedic, cardiovascular or women’s care.
2. Learning from K-12 design: Pediatric healthcare facilities can learn to build more inviting spaces from the strategies used in K-12 learning environments. This includes ample natural light, nature-inspired building materials, clear circulation paths, and sensory-friendly spaces with purposeful colors, soft textures and visual cues.
3. 3D-printed, to-scale models to optimize OR layouts: Hospitals can use miniature mock-ups of the OR to experiment with equipment placement and layouts to determine the best arrangements for smooth workflows in a cost-effective manner.
4. Nature in clinical spaces: Some hospitals are harnessing nature’s healing and calming powers by bringing more natural elements into their facilities. This includes wall-protection printed artwork with biophilic touch in the outlines of leaves and flowers, floor-to-ceiling windows offering forest views, pond-adjacent walking trails and bringing native plants into the interior design elements.
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