The Healing Environment:

Much research has been accomplhied in the recent years relative to the "Healing Environment." The design of the healthcare environment has a tremendous theraputic effect on the patients. Lighting, sound, color, texture natural light, views, artwork, family participation and staff work environment result in improved patient outcome.

Improved Healing Environments have shown patients experience less pain, fewer infections, reduced stress for staff and patients, faster patient recovery, fewer recurring illnesses and less staff fatigue and employee turnover.

It has been well established that the single patient room results in a shorter hospital stay, as does the quieter patient room. Providing for family participation in the healthcare environment has been another significant step toward improved patient satisfaction. Our challenge as designers of the environment is to balance these considerations with the economical cosideration to make it all possible.