Question

What strategies can be used to ensure sustainable health care facilities are designed ?

Answer 1

The incorporation of sustainable design and natural elements into the healthcare facilities will promote and fasten the recovery and health of the patient and will benefit visitors as well as the employees and staff. Ultimately, the sustainable strategies in healthcare facilities can maximize return on investment and also ensure the happiness and satisfaction of multiple stakeholders. Sustainable strategies have been found to directly boost staff morale, patient outcomes, and visitor experience. These strategies can be adopted both for the long-term care facilities as well as for the hospitals.

The “Centre for Health Design” has also provided the twelve different factors that should be considered while designing health care facilities, and these are based on the best practices approach. Strategies for the design of healthcare facilities should incorporate these different factors to ensure the sustainability of healthcare facilities. Incorporating these multiple factors will ensure that a healing environment is present in a health care facility, the individual can control the environment better, and the social networks of the patient are supported. The strategies that work on the key elements also promote unrestricted and convenient access to nature and the other available positive distractions will also boost involvement. The 12 factors that can be important strategic elements for ensuring a sustainable health care facility design include:

Single patient rooms- research shows that the single-patient rooms have lesser medication errors, shorter stays, highest occupancy rates, lower costs, lesser patient transfers, decreased rate of acquiring infection in a hospital, less noise, reduced sleep disturbances, greater control, privacy, and enhanced patient satisfaction.

Noise- there can be many different sources of noise in hospitals. Sounds often come from alarms, buzzers, talking and walking of people, and due to the presence of hard surfaces, among other sources. Noise can be reduced by introducing the behavioral and operational changes in the staff activities, maintaining equipment, locating the equipment and spaces more proximally, and through the employment of other practical approaches.

Placement of windows- windows provide both physical and visual assessment to nature and create a more stress-free environment. When gardens are located within the healthcare settings and the windows can provide them while bringing fresh air inside the rooms, the patients remain free of anxiety.

Positive distractions- pets, laughter, music, art, and natural elements (in the form of water, flowers, and trees) may all be termed as certain positive distractions that can relieve stress, reduce the demand for pain medication, and improve mood.

Arrangement of furniture- furniture placement in healthcare settings should promote social interactions in the waiting areas. The furniture should provide for flexible and small groupings. Smaller groupings will also ensure better relative privacy and improved eating behavior.

Air quality- poor air quality and impaired ventilation cause transmission of pathogens including bacteria, and increase the rate of hospital-acquired infection. Therefore the hospital HVAC system should be carefully designed and well maintained. Other inclusions include the use of the HEPA filters and deployment of preventive measures during the construction of the healthcare facilities and their renovation.

Flooring materials- flooring materials used in healthcare facilities should provide for ease of maintenance, and control of infections and sound. Proper flooring materials can also address the specific needs of the population. Rubber, vinyl, and carpet are certain options available.

Wayfinding- when there are disorientations in the built environment of a health care facility, it can be a cause of stress, embarrassment, wastage of time, and may even cause fatalities. Signage and the colored lines may not be enough to ensure proper wayfinding. Facilities should be constructed following the requirement of environmental design, human behavior, and the policies and practices of the organization.

Building layout- it has been found that the decentralized workstations or workstations that include appropriate elements of both centralized and decentralized layout designs provide for a better delivery time, can be more convenient, and also have reduced supply cost.

Ergonomics- improper ergonomics may be a cause of injuries as well as falls among the patient. It is important for the health care providers to ensure that patients remain comfortable during the medical procedures and the furnishings are thoughtfully designed.

Strategies that can ensure sustainable healthcare facilities should ensure that they incorporate the different elements and factors described above to provide the best benefits. The concept of Materiality is quite important. For instance, some products and materials may have the harmful chemicals including volatile organic compounds, which when emitted into the air, are a cause of health problems. The construction project of a healthcare facility should itself incorporate the use of sustainable materials. Access to nature is also quite important for the well being of patient as it directly reduces depression and stress, and increases tolerance towards pain. Windows should be placed deliberately and at appropriate places so that they can provide for a more peaceful and warmer environment. Building layouts can also boost staff efficiency and have the best elements of both decentralized and centralized nursing stations so that the patient can be greatly benefited.