A recent article in the Boston Sunday Globe looks at how noise in hospitals can actually harm the patients who are there to recover from their ailments and what design changes can be made to help the sick feel better faster. A recent special issue of The Zweig Letter looked at the health care market from several design-related angles but didn't touch on this one.
What do you think of this notion? Is your firm in the health care market? Any ideas to cut down the clatter?
Healthcare facilities should be built with what is referred to as an on-stage and off-stage (back of house) concepts. On-stage refers to the area where patients, staff and visitors are located and have physical separation from off-stage operations. Off-stage operations include the functions of supply replenishment, linen restocking, meal service, housekeeping duties of waste and soiled linen removal, and other support operations. This physical separation of activities aids in reducing noise levels in the patient care areas and provides for a quieter environment for improved healing.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, new design concepts include decentralized nursing work stations that are located outside, and in between, patient rooms. These decentralized work stations have viewing windows into the each patient room. This design concept allows the nurse to check on patients without entering the room and disturbing the patient. (Hue Roach, Lerch Bates, Inc.)