Insights & Solutions

Momeni, M., Jamshidimanesh, M., & Ranjbar, H. (2020). Effectiveness of a Snoezelen Room on fear, anxiety, and satisfaction of nulliparous women: A randomized controlled trial. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

We have a number of studies looking at the influence of room design on birth and birthing outcomes, but understanding any implications of room design are important because it potentially influences the health of both the mom and baby. The researchers conducted a 13-month randomized control trial with first-time mothers who were either in a standard room or a multi-sensory room. The multi-sensory room included aspects of sight, sound and smell. Measures were taken before, during, and after birth. During the birthing, the fear score went down with every measurement phase in the sensory room while it went up in every phase in the standard room. Results also showed that the mean score of anxiety decreased across all phases in the multi-sensory room. In addition, the total mean score of birth satisfaction was 163 in the intervention room and only about 75 in the control room. This study addresses cultural context, but it also takes what we know about positive distractions and pain and what we know about multi-sensory environments and the regulation of behavior, and applies that evidence in a different setting – one for birth.

Don’t miss this, high-return day to problem-solve with experts, idea-share with colleagues and obtain new strategies and resources to address behavioral health challenges not only in specialized units, but in emergency departments, outpatient clinics and throughout acute care settings. 

The 12,500 SF unit was designed and constructed in just 120 days and incorporates all of the planned care and documentation practices to support the Western Maryland community during the COVID-19 pandemic and future events as they may occur. The negative-pressure and ventilator-capable environment was designed adjacent to outpatient facilities and increases the overall capacity of available beds, while limiting the exposure of the infected patients. The unit features two operating modes: “normal,” where the rooms function as typical medical/surgical beds; and “infectious,” where all 20 rooms operate under negative pressure to care for infected patients and provide clinical safety.

King, B., Bodden, J., Steege, L., & Brown, C. J. (2020). Older adults experiences with ambulation during a hospital stay: A qualitative study. Geriatric Nursing

The inability to independently ambulate during an admission frequently results in “hospital associated disability” for older adults. Understanding and addressing ambulatory barriers from their point of view is essential to facilitate better outcomes. Focus groups were conducted to solicit and categorize responses. Researchers uncovered a new place-based concept that they referred to as “Danger Zones.” Unwelcoming environments, inadequate care planning, and interpersonal biases all contribute to challenges with older patient’s lack of ambulation. This study provides a prototype for identifying barriers to ambulation in healthcare settings from the perspective of older adults as well as a broader range of inpatients.

Martins, B. A., Barrie, H., Visvanathan, R., Daniel, L., Martins, L. A., Ranasinghe, D., Wilson, A., & Soebarto, V. (2020). A multidisciplinary exploratory approach for investigating the experience of older adults attending hospital services. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, in press.

Giving older adults and others with functional limitations a place to temporarily land while ambulating is the least we an do to promote their functional health in hospitals.

Lorusso, L., Park, N.-K., Bosch, S., Freytes, I. M., Shorr, R., Conroy, M., & Ahrentzen, S. (2020). Sensory environments for behavioral health in Dementia: Diffusion of an environmental innovation at the Veterans Health Administration. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, in press.

Not all MSE stimulus or equipment is created equal and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Join us for this virtual interactive, collaborative, problem-solving workshop intended to enable project stakeholders (designers, facility executives, administrators, care providers) to employ physical design strategies and methodologies that support improved care for children. Representatives from internationally acclaimed children’s hospitals will share insights into the latest developments and future direction for pediatric care. The esteemed faculty will present pediatric evidence-based design studies and best practices that integrate architecture, design and technology with innovative medical practice to create high-quality, high-tech care in a safe and enriching environment. Attendees will also share questions and ideas with the owners and faculty through interactive panel discussion.

Jenny Hastings, Principal at Boulder Associates Architects answers the question, “How has the pandemic affected Lean Management Practices in your firm?” Jenny begins, “We have projects that are speeding up, some that are slowing down.