Insights & Solutions

What is it like to work for the nation’s largest African American architecture firm?

E4H planned and designed the first inpatient bed expansion at Virginia Hospital Center since 2004. The multi-phased project will convert existing medical offices on floors 3 and 4 into state-of-the-art inpatient units, with private patient rooms that are 60% larger than other units and 30% larger than standard patient rooms.

Hospital for Special Surgery and United Surgical Partners International formed a joint partnership to create an orthopedic center of excellence in West Palm Beach, Florida. Adjacent to the Good Samaritan Hospital, the new center offers outpatient orthopedic care including diagnostic services, ambulatory surgery, rehabilitation, and sports performance programs, bringing the top quality care of HSS to communities in South Florida. The 4-level building features floor-to-ceiling windows to encourage natural light and views of the ocean. A 5-level parking garage adjacent to the Hospital offers convenient, direct access to the building.  

The project's mission was to solve the extensive inpatient needs of the campus, with the goal of increasing the number of single-rooms from 30% to 90% and updating the oldest rooms on the campus. The planning & conceptual design process involved heavy user group input including collaboration with the Facility Master Planning Steering Committee, Sustainability Council, Internal Departments, Design User Groups for nursing, support, and ancillary services, and Patients and Families Design User Group.

Altro Tegulis is a hygienic wall panel solution with a chic, authentic tile look and feel. The custom-etched grout lines eliminate the need for scrubbing and repair issues common with traditional ceramic tile.

Wang, Z., & Pukszta, M. (2018). Private Rooms, Semi-Open Areas, or Open Areas for Chemotherapy Care: Perspectives of Cancer Patients, Families, and Nursing Staff. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal

Designers should consider spaces that provide options for privacy, social interaction, and access to nurses, and views of nature. The number of patients (or treatment pods) per treatment area depends on several constraints set in each project, but designers can refer to the suggestions made in this study (5 to 6.5 patients) as a jumping off point for discussion.

FGI (2014) recommends that the size of the treatment area and ratio of open patient care stations and private bays/cubicles/rooms should depend on the patient acuity mix and planned use of the unit, and that at least one private treatment room is recommended. This study supports the guideline, showing that a mix of treatment spaces can support the various needs and preferences patients, families, and staff may have. Patient and staff needs are likely to vary from day to day and project to project, and flexibility in treatment area types can support this.   While the minimum standards provided by FGI and current best practices are a great starting point, many organizations will want to go above and beyond in providing the best possible environment for their patients. This study attempts to find out what “the best” might include.

Rich, R. K., Jimenez, F. E., Puumala, S. E., DePaola, S., Harper, K., Roy, L., Brittin, J. (2020). From Fable to Reality at Parkland Hospital: The Impact of Evidence-Based Design Strategies on Patient Safety, Healing, and Satisfaction in an Adult Inpatient Environment. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, pages in press.  

Sharon Woodworth is both a practicing healthcare architect shaping her practice at HED into a national firm, and an associate professor at UCSF teaching healthcare architecture to physicians and nurses who want to be a CEO in healthcare.

Turn in to hear about Sharon’s vast and prolific career in healthcare.

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.