Patient Environments by Design 2010 Background & Objectives

Patient room design at Tunbridge Wells Hospital (drawing courtesy of Anshen + Allen

Patient Environments by Design 2010 is an international symposium exploring the role of design in improving the quality of patient environments to support the healing process, stimulate wellbeing and underpin the nursing care philosophy.

Introduction
Now and into the future, patients will chose hospitals and healthcare settings not only for the best clinical services available, but those that best satisfy their expectations for welcoming, healing environments in which safety, dignity and personal comfort are key.

It is well established internationally that the recovery of patients in hospitals and care settings is affected by their experience of the environment that surrounds them.

Research studies from around the world indicate, however, that the quality of the designed environment influences patient recovery in far more significant ways than we had previously imagined, suggesting that the patient’s perception of their environment influences their response to nursing care, medication and their overall hospital experience.

The theory of salutogenesis provides a basic understanding of how coping may be created and through the quality of the patient environment can improve patients’ perceptions of the care they receive. Providing positive distractions and stimuli through the healthcare environment is critical to support healing process.

Green patient room (picture courtesy of Anshen + Allen)

The debate concerning the most appropriate design for the accommodation of patients in health and care settings is a common and controversial issue in the developed world. Despite several studies conducted by both researchers and designers around the world, there is limited credible research that gives consideration to the full array of factors that influence the healing process of patients in healthcare environments.

In recent times, political agendas and health perspectives have focused on making design recommendations that help to reduce risk and error, which whilst important highly reflect the pathogenic approach of the healthcare industry.

Whilst clinical practice focuses on treating illness, there’s also a raft of research to suggest that the quality of the patient environment has a highly important role to play, by emphasising on wellness factors and providing the conditions for positive stimuli and interaction with the environment to enhance a sense of control and safety.

Why should I attend?
To explore, debate and hear expert opinion, current thinking and future trends in environmental design aimed at improving patient recovery within hospital and care settings. Delegates will be actively encouraged to participate in:

• Examining the latest studies and practices in patient room and nurse station design
• Discovering optimum ward configurations for safety, dignity, efficiency and comfort
• Understanding the interdisciplinary perspectives of nurses, patients, architects and designers
• Learning about innovative new product designs and advances in medical technology
• Finding solutions to the challenges of retro-fitting and modernisation
• Evaluating different models of care and the latest health perspectives
  
• Determining what we can learn from international projects and comparisons
• Developing the evidence-base for the therapeutic role of art in the healing environment