Design for Healing

THE CHALLENGE

Hospital Emergency Rooms often lack thoughtful design. Utilitarian thinking prevents design teams from considering how environment contributes to the healing process.

Think of the current ER waiting room experience…

Fluorescent lighting overhead
A television blaring content chosen by a nurse or hospital visitor
Toys spread on the floor in a corner designated for children
Regular shouting of names as visitors are called to be seen
Uncomfortable seating arranged in rows

THE OPPORTUNITY

There is an opportunity to redesign of the overall hospital environment to make it a place that supports physical, mental, emotional, relational, and spiritual healing.

The outcomes:

Healing : Good design ignites the healing process from the moment the patient sees and experiences the facility. Building environments that decrease stress and foster peace change vitals.
Mission : Most healthcare systems declare their corporate values, yet those values are not reflected in the built environment.
Market Share: The healthcare system that commits to Design for Healing immediately differentiates themselves as the hospital of choice.

DATA AND RESEARCH

The role of art in healing is widely known and backed by data.

These two articles focus primarily on the implementation of art in the clinical setting.

WE’RE GOING BEYOND AND CREATING IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTS OF HEALING.

BEYOND ART THERAPY TO HOLISTIC DESIGN

While there is a lot of research on the integration of art into the built environment, we are taking a broader, more holistic approach.

Rather than merely implementing art in a space, we are creating spaces that are designed for healing;

that is to say that we’re considering how every component of the healthcare environment is connected as part of one overall space.

MODELS FROM OTHER INDUSTRIES

AIRLINES

In the last decade, airlines have invested in how design improves the customer experience and overall well-being. There is a stark difference in something as simple as lighting.

Think of the contrast in flying on a newer, long-haul plane vs an older domestic flight.

You’ve experienced this first-hand. There is a marked difference in your internal state when flying in an uncomfortable, older plane and one that is enhanced with by thoughtful design.

METRICS FOR SUCCESS

There are three clear metrics for success in this endeavor.

Increased Visitation
Currently, most potential patients don’t have an impetus for choosing one hospital over another. The experiences are the same, so why bother? When one hospital clearly stands out, and there is an effective marketing campaign accompanying the new experience offering, guests have a reason to choose.
Intake Vitals
There is an opportunity to examine a change in intake vitals. As a result of the space designed to facilitate healing, is there an improvement in heart rate, blood pressure, and other vital measurements? Essentially, are we truly designing spaces that support the holistic healing process?
Shareability
It’s not a common expectation, but what if people were so inspired by their ER visit that they wanted to share that visit on social media and in conversation with their friends. “I had to go to the ER, and it was beautiful. Look at this environment!” We want to reform the expectation.