More and more builders, architects and designers in health care are interested in creating "healing environments." While color and style are important in any design consideration, creating and maintaining healing environments goes beyond the basics.
Research shows links between body functions and the surrounding environment, both manufactured and natural. Research explores the environment and its effect on blood pressure and heart rate, immune function, nutrition, depression and anxiety, relationship building and family support. With this information, architects and designers have created beautiful, healthy and highly functional buildings and spaces for enhanced healing.
Think of creating a healing environment from three directions. First, the building itself is important. Good building design uses nontoxic materials, establishes good airflow, controls noise, uses natural lighting, offers pleasing views and provides safety. Some features are obvious, such as wide, well-lit stairwells to avoid injury. Others might be less obvious, such as interior and exterior design that reflects the local natural landscape to evoke feelings of wholeness and continuity.
Processes
Second, the processes are important. Processes can add stress if done poorly or add a sense of well being if done well. These processes include how the traffic flows in the building and on the grounds, how supplies are stored and accessed, how odors move through an area, where visitors sit, and - especially in hospitals - how to maintain privacy.
Culture
Finally, a building can be state of the art, with efficient, tasteful processes, but without warm and caring people, you cannot create a healing environment. Human warmth and kindness, even in what could be a scary place (a hospital, for example), can usher in tremendous healing. When all three of these elements are at work - building design, processes and culture - they enhance the opportunity to create and support a healing environment.
Take one example: noise.
Stress, sleep disturbance and decreased wound healing are linked to jarring loud noises and constant background noises. A high-quality building can reduce noise if it is built with an excellent heating, ventilating and air-conditioning system, proper insulation and sound-absorbing materials.
The process of rolling heavy carts down an interior hallway rather than outside patient rooms reduces noise. Staff who use hand-held pagers rather than overhead paging reduce the annoying din of a busy hospital. Health care facilities should also have sound dividers in waiting rooms for conversations, phone calls and family gatherings.
And lastly, the culture. Creating a culture where all staff are aware of sound issues will help people to remember to shut doors, to provide music when desired, to answer phones quickly, to speak quietly. This intentional awareness can spread to visitors and family members as well.
Applying these elements to workplaces and homes creates more harmonious environments that support a well-nourished life. There is science to this art. Together, the creations can be beautiful, inspiring and healing.
For more information, go to www.healthdesign.org or www.gghc.org/about.cfm.
Beth Schenk is a registered nurse and facilitator of Women's Health at St. Patrick Hospital and Health Sciences Center.
|
 |
 |
Add your comment now! Write your comment in the form below.
(Email address is for verification only. If you'd like to email a story, look for the link above)