RESEARCH IN PRACTICE

Evidence based design seeks to understand the direct link between patient health and quality of care and the way a hospital is designed. The results include proven architectural methods for improving patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction, as well as staff retention and service efficiency.

By linking the care people get to the outcomes they experience, evidence based research has become the key to developing better ways to enhance the healthcare work environment and improve the quality of care. Supporting improvements in health outcomes is a strategic goal of the design team by focusing on the following factors:

• enhance patient safety by selecting materials that reduce infection, risk, injuries from falls, and medical errors;
• eliminate environmental stressors, such as noise, that negatively affect outcomes and staff performance;
• reduce stress and promote healing by designing hospitals to be more pleasant, comfortable, and supportive for patients and staff alike.