This webinar will share research and case studies that explore how design can be used as a tool complementing therapeutic protocols to reduce patient stress and aggression on pediatric mental health units. Rather than space acting as a control strategy, a more spatially and socially sensitive environment improves safety by elevating patient dignity. Utilizing a human-centered approach to design, strategies examine both tangible and intangible elements and their relationships to spatial and social density that strengthen staff-patient connections, facilitate innovations, and create a safer place for staff to deliver and children to receive mental health treatment.
Experts
Scott Holmes is an architect and medical planner who has been involved in the design of medical and behavioral health facilities for his entire 35-year career. Prior to his recent retirement from private practice, Scott was a principal at BWBR Architects based in St. Paul, MN where he led the planning process, developing planning options, and refining them into efficient, flexible, safe and therapeutic solutions.
Scott is a leading advocate for the use of research and evidence-based design as a tool to elevate the effectiveness of behavioral health facilities. He has spoken frequently on his human-centered approach to design; was part of the Editorial Advisory Board for Healthcare Design Magazine from 2018- 2022; and, is Lean/Six Sigma – Green Belt Certified.
Melanie Baumhover, BWBR architect and principal, works on projects throughout the continuum of care for behavioral and mental health care, including residential treatment, intensive outpatient care, specialty therapy outpatient facilities, emergency care, and forensic care. Clients seek out BWBR’s nationally known behavioral services for master and strategic planning, environment of care review, teamed projects as behavioral planner, and full design projects as architect of record. She also leads the internal Behavioral/Mental Health Community of Practice, dedicated to furthering knowledge throughout the firm.