Interior Essentials for Creating Healthcare Spaces in Harmony With Occupants

Healthcare systems are focusing on the “best patient experience” as one of their top priorities when designing facilities. This focus on the patient is applied in healthcare environments in order to satisfy the needs of patients away from the comfort and convenience of their own homes, and to provide a higher quality of care.

An experience that reduces anxiety and stress and provides additional positive elements is the goal. Five essential factors — choice, social support, positive distraction, access to nature and environmental factors — are important to apply in the design of healthcare facilities to evaluate and help guide decisions intended to enhance a patient’s clinical outcome, as well as the overall quality of experience.

These essential factors should be used in healthcare facilities through a holistic approach to create interior spaces in harmony with the people that interact within.

At the Multiple Sclerosis Center at Swedish Medical Center Cherry Hill Campus in Seattle, Washington and Baylor Scott + White– Waxahachie in Texas, interior design teams implemented many of these factors, as well as other detailed features, to meet and support the cultural needs of patients within these facilities.

Choice

The ability to have control in certain aspects of one’s experience within a healthcare environment, specifically with options of privacy, communication, delivery of information and schedules, is desired among most patients.

Controls to a variety of lighting levels and the temperature provide patients with a sense of control over their room environment. Factors allowing for control within patient spaces can be implemented depending on the needs of the patients within each specific healthcare facility. Varying levels of privacy are varied throughout spaces. Many facilities offer different levels of seclusion allowing patients and families to choose which best suits their needs.

At BSW Waxahachie, an array of natural scenes accompanied by soothing nature sounds displayed through the television also provide patients the option to choose which scene they prefer to further alleviate stress.

Support

Patients often need, or want, available support from families, safety and encouragement. These avenues of support help a patient in their healing process.

Family spaces with large sofa units and group seating options provide patients’ families with overnight accommodations. Classrooms and flexible seating arrangements allow families to join together as larger groups. Electronics, such as computers and TVs, are often available in resource areas to research health information, entertainment or schedule future appointments.

A bed tower organized with the patient, family and staff in mind is a top priority to meet the needs of patients, families and staff who interact within. Some facilities contain nested patient toilets that allow for enlarged staff zones and spacious family areas with large comfortable sofas that can transform into a sleeper sofa to encourage family centered care.

The placement of handrails throughout healthcare buildings helps reassure patients and encourages them to exercise, while remaining safe and in control. Handrails in the bathrooms also allow patients the support needed for moving throughout the bathroom on their own.

In addition, on the MS Center’s private terrace, patient lift systems and a walkway composed of varying materials were designed to help patients practice walking on different surfaces. The lift systems offer balance and support, giving patients the security to strengthen motor skills. Another way in which MS patients attempt to mitigate their mobility and balance problems is by “wall walking.”

Positive distractions

Intellectual, spiritual, physical and environmental distractions for the patient are important in providing a positive experience by relieving patients’ minds of medical treatment and offering an escape.

Spaces for private reflection, such as a wellness garden, provide positive distractions. Large expansive windows overlooking gardens to enhance the patient’s view create a soothing and serene environment for patients and families indoors. Also, displayed art pieces should be chosen based upon relatability to patients, as well as a comforting connection.

In the patient rooms at BSW Waxahachie, thoughtful consideration toward improving the overall experience influenced the concept of concealing all medical and clinical equipment while maintaining full function. The room features a custom headwall designed to conceal medical gases behind moveable panels that seamlessly disappear when in its closed position.

Access to nature

Studies have shown the connection to nature is another key component to creating a healing environment. Natural light, views of nature, natural materials and connectivity to the community in the interior provide a calm and soothing atmosphere to help restore the mind and body.

The maximum utilization of natural light among patient and family areas is key. Views to nature and healing gardens provide people within the facility access to nature. Natural stone and wood elements are occasionally implemented into the interior design to reinforce the connection and provide visual cues for intuitive wayfinding. Art and graphics among glass sometimes utilize natural tree shapes or plants. Outdoor seating in and around therapeutic healing gardens, in addition to the views from the interior, provide an escape from the facility and an access point to nature.

At BSW Waxahachie, four design elements were inspired by the culture, history and nature of Waxahachie and the surrounding areas, which became the driving force of the design, and provided a strong access to nature throughout the hospital. The design elements consisted of the sun — for its warmth and spiritual qualities; the field — for its historic cotton fields that once covered Waxahachie; the tree — the city being designated as the crape myrtle capital of Texas and the creek — for the city’s name coming from a Native American word meaning “buffalo creek.” Throughout the interior design, key architectural elements are highlighted by unique finishes inspired by these four concepts and selected to improve the health, safety and welfare of those who interact within. Simple, clean forms articulate into portals framing visitor destinations, while a bold palette of saturated hues used for wayfinding are balanced by warm woods and textured stones layered on top of a neutral background. Colors and patterns of Texas nature-inspired botanicals and organics dedicated to each floor were used to enhance the human experience and create cues for wayfinding, while adding an additional aspect to the connection of nature.

Environmental factors

Environmental factors within a healthcare facility, such as air quality, safety, ergonomics and workplace distractions, can all affect one’s experience. Reducing these factors can increase staff productivity and create a connection between the patients and their environment.

Centralized nurse stations in bed units provide optimum visibility to patient rooms. Enclosing nurse stations with decorative glass helps create a quiet, supportive environment for patients, visitors and staff. Carpet insets keep the sounds to a minimum, further contributing to the “quiet” of the space. Reducing travel distances to support areas by duplicating highly used spaces maximizes time the staff spends at the patient’s bedside.

An 80-foot-long wall of living plants, along with other green materials throughout the facility, improves the indoor air quality at the MS Center. Due to the design of the center and the ability to work with patients and families across many levels of care such as PT, OT, counseling, social and clinical areas during one visit, care providers and researchers are given the chance to make huge advancements in the long-term care of patients and to take further steps toward a possible cure for MS.

Healthcare systems and design teams are determined to create the “best patient experience” through a better understanding of the way built environments and design influence the people within. This understanding allows design teams to create spaces that are more harmonious, and have a positive and productive outcome, while improving the quality and well-being of the community it serves.