Healing Environments Whats The Proof?

Americans believe when they become sick, diseased or injured, they need medical attention to be cured. We have long associated curing with healing; believing that to be cured is to be healed. Thus, it is the expectation that medical facilities are healing environments. However, are they? Can a “place” heal? What’s the proof??

“Healing environments, continue to be defined with new qualities including safety, security, accessibility, sustainable and now “evidence-based design”. It has become the new design tool of choice. Evidence validates that barriers can be mitigated, allowing elements such as better lighting, art programs and even water features actually improve patient outcomes, and even reduce operating costs.

This book defines the characteristics of a healing environment suggesting that ten essential components: place, change, people, comfort, senses, knowledge, empowerment, biophilia, spirit and experience makes a difference in health outcomes. Readers are challenged to look differently at humanity’s natural ability to heal as well as integrate supporting evidence. And finally, we must “think outside the box” and engage in the transformational model of healing through experiences.

In addition, Dr. Wan contributing author adds the final chapter summarizing the current research in evidence-based design. Like evidence-based medicine it is the “proof” that propels design to a new level of value. This book provides defining evidence that supports the latest scientific proof regarding the power of healing environments.