Why Hospitals Should Make Space for Wellness
12/16/2024
Research demonstrates that a person’s environment directly impacts their overall health. Many organizations are studying how evidence-based health and wellness interventions can be incorporated into design and building construction. One such organization, The International WELL Building Institute, developed The WELL Building Standard, which details the multitude of ways environmental factors impact our bodily processes and functions. According to the WELL Building Standard, “stress, unhealthy diets…and exposure to environmental pollutants negatively affect the cardiovascular system.” Meanwhile, environmental toxins, diet, stress, and sleep quality can impact the nervous system. By understanding how building design influences recovery and prevents adverse health outcomes, hospital leaders and designers can implement strategies to improve all stakeholders’ overall health and well-being.
Humans are hardwired to seek out nature because of its inherent ability to calm the soul, yet most people spend the majority of their lives indoors. A study by The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health states that a connection to nature can lead to “relaxation, stress relief, lower blood pressure, and heart rate, decrease in chronic pain, improvement in cognitive functioning, increased positive emotions, and reduced fatigue, aggression, and sadness.” Biophilic design including plants, natural lighting, and relaxing soundscapes can provide proven clinical benefits such as “reducing migraine headaches and chronic pain, as well as improving depressive symptoms.” Operational strategies for infection prevention make it challenging for hospitals to incorporate true natural elements within the building, but artwork and wall graphics referencing nature can be just as effective.
Sleep is also crucial to physical health and overall well-being. It also promotes healing and recovery, so maintaining circadian rhythm (or the body’s internal clock system) is critical for all occupants within a clinical setting. According to a 2023 study by Frontiers in Pharmacology, “The circadian rhythm can be affected by environmental changes and spontaneous activities like light exposure, diet, and exercise.” Dimmable lights and “zero blue” bulbs are a cost-effective way for hospitals to create natural lighting cycles artificially. Access to adequate nutrition and providing accessible ways for patients and staff to exercise naturally and safely can also improve sleep quality inside the hospital and at home.
How to implement wellness design principles in hospital spaces
One area in which holistic design can be enhanced within a hospital is the staff spaces. Employee morale is often not prioritized in healthcare design, yet a positive patient experience is mostly determined by how well the patient or caregiver interacts with the staff. A National Institute of Health study found that healthcare professionals experience “high levels of stress, job dissatisfaction, mental fatigue, burnout, and mental exhaustion.” This can lead to higher rates of “medical error, hospital-associated infections, and higher patient mortality.” Efficiently designed workstations and private breakrooms with access to natural light have been proven to reduce rates of burnout and improve job satisfaction. The study also found that providing easy access to supplies, medications, equipment, and other work areas in a workstation layout is essential. Minimizing walking distance between spaces and optimizing workflow can enhance staff efficiency and reduce physical strain. Access to green and natural spaces lowered stress and improved staff mental health. Implementing strategies from the hospitality industry and focusing on staff well-being can reduce burnout and turnover while improving the patient experience. For example, Forest Park Austin Community Hospital emphasized hospitality with its design and installation. The facility installed a double-story water feature and roof gardens to welcome patients and staff with calming sounds and a more natural environment where people want to work and heal.
Caregivers and spaces for them are also important occupants within the hospital setting. When focusing on the patient experience, it’s vital for hospital leaders and designers to also consider caregiver needs regarding hospital layout and amenities. Over time and after numerous additions, hospital buildings can become a confusing maze of hallways, hard-to-find specialists, and staff-only rooms, which causes difficulty navigating through a building in what may already be a stressful emotional situation. If caregivers or patients have trouble reaching their intended destination, they can become confused, agitated, and even frustrated, which can ultimately impact the staff. To mitigate this problem, hospitals can simplify their layout and include clear signage and landmarks to reduce wayfinding issues. Design teams should also consider using the environment to reduce stress so that the building can guide occupants through its integrated architectural gestures.
The challenges and the benefits
When choosing whether to complete a new building project, hospital leaders face two significant operational challenges: cost and regulatory compliance. Many hospitals are forced to stretch a limited budget for new projects while adhering to local, state, and federal healthcare delivery and facility operations regulations. Historically, hospitals operate at low-profit margins, which means that decision-makers are tasked with making project choices that provide the best return on investment (ROI).
Investing in the well-being of patients, staff, and caregivers can lead to better overall outcomes for hospitals and healthcare facilities. Enhancing the hospital environment through carefully chosen design decisions can improve staff productivity and patient recovery rates, reducing costs associated with staff turnover and patient readmissions. Ultimately, this can lead to improved Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) scores, enhanced loyalty within the community’s patient population, and stronger ROI for hospital administrators.
Future trends
New advancements in healthcare technology, like artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and robotic devices, will streamline administrative tasks such as patient check-ins, assist in diagnostics and surgeries, and improve patient monitoring. In the face of a technological revolution, maintaining human connection ensures that patients, staff, and caregivers feel safe, respected, and well-cared for. It is imperative for healthcare leaders to consider the overall experience of everyone in the healthcare space now and in the future. Taking time to care for the well-being of patients, staff, and caregivers can increase staff morale, community loyalty, and patient recovery rates. It can lead to a stronger bottom line for hospitals by reducing costs associated with staff retention and patient throughput. After all, art and design can revitalize everyone’s physical, mental, and emotional health by making the world a little more beautiful.
Bryan Ruby is a Senior Architect with BHDP Architecture.