Emergency Department Security Programs, Community Crime, and Employee Assaults
2012
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 42
Pages 329-38
Author(s): Blando, J.D. , McGreevy, K., O’Hagan, E. , Worthington, K. , Valiante, D., Nocera, M. , Casteel, C. , Peek-Asa, C.
Violence against healthcare workers is a serious occupational health hazard, particularly for Emergency Department (ED) employees. Injuries from non-fatal assaults are estimated to be four to 12 times higher among healthcare workers when compared to the overall rate for all private sector employees in the United States. Nationally, only voluntary guidelines exist from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for the protection of healthcare workers. The ED has been identified as one of the highest risk areas for violence within the hospital.
Added April 2014
The Effect of Environmental Design on Reducing Nursing Errors and Increasing Efficiency in Acute Care Settings: A Review and Analysis of the Literature
2009
Environment and Behavior
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 41
Pages 755-786
Author(s): Chaudhury, H., Mahmood, A., Valente, M.
In acute care settings, the physical environment plays an important role in staff efficiency and patient safety. Some research suggests that poor environments can result in staff stress, anxiety, and distractions due to noise; artificial lighting; improper or inadequate ventilation; and disorienting layouts of nursing units. There is less research on how environmental factors affect nursing staff health, effectiveness, errors, and job satisfaction.
Added April 2014
Nurses’ Perception of Single-Occupancy Versus Multioccupancy Rooms in Acute Care Environments: An Exploratory Comparative Assessment
2006
Applied Nursing Research
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 19
Pages 118-125
Author(s): Chaudhury, H., Mahmood, A., Valente, M.
As people are living longer and the baby boomers age, the demand for hospital beds will increase. As new facilities are built to handle this influx of patients, the challenge for hospital designers and administrators is to design patient rooms that promote therapeutic goals, foster positive patient outcomes, and function as intensive care rooms. Recent research suggests that single-occupancy rooms are more suitable for infection control and patient care than multioccupancy rooms. However, no research has been done about nursing staff members’ perception of single-occupancy and multioccupancy patient rooms in acute care settings as it relates to patient care.
Added April 2014
Enhancing the traditional hospital design process: a focus on patient safety
March 2004
The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 30
Pages 115-24
Author(s): Reiling, J.G., Knutzen, B.L., Wallen, T.K., McCullough, S. , Miller, R., Chernos, S.
The current study is an overview of innovative system engineering and patient safety factors, named as the Synergy model that a hospital system utilized to design their new facility.
Added April 2014
Environmental evaluation for workplace violence in healthcare and social services
2008
Journal of Safety Research
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 39
Pages 237-50
Author(s): McPhaul, K.M. , Murrett, K., Flannery, K. , Rosen, J., Lipscomb, J., London, M.
The purpose of this project was to contribute specific, evidence–based guidance to the healthcare and social services employer communities regarding the use of environmental design to prevent violence.
Added April 2014
Medication Errors Observed in 36 Healthcare Facilities
2002
Archives of Internal Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 16
Volume 162
Pages 1897-1903
Author(s): Barker, K. N., Flynn, E. A., Pepper, G. A., Bates, D. W., Mikeal, R. L.
The authors in this study aimed to measure and compare the medication error rates at 36 healthcare facilities in Georgia and Colorado. Three different facility types were randomly stratified and included in the study; Joint Commission accredited hospitals, Joint Commission non-accredited hospitals and skilled nursing facilities. The main aim was to observe if the medication error rates in these healthcare settings differ by facility type (by bed size) or by State.
Added April 2014
Suicide and self-harm in inpatient psychiatric units: a study of nursing issues in 31 cases
2000
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 1
Volume 32
Pages 124-31
Author(s): Gournay, K., Bowers, L.
A significant number of incidents of suicide and self-harm occur in in-patient facilities. This study comprises of the review and audit of 31 suicide cases, each case being the subject of legal action brought by patients and/or their families.
Added April 2014
Noise and related events in neonatal intensive care unit
2001
Acta Paediatrical Taiwanica
Journal Article
Issue 4
Volume 42
Pages 212-217
Author(s): Chang, Y. J., Lin, C. H., Lin, L. H.
Noise contributes to environmental stress to premature infants, who often spend long periods of time in neonatal intensive care units (NICU). Some research indicates that noise contributes to higher incidences of hearing loss, as well as cardiovascular, respirator, endocrine, and behavioral deficits. Some of the noise might be reduced by studying different aspects of NICU settings (i.e., wards, personnel, equipment, and procedures).
Added April 2014
No Interruptions Please: Impact of a No Interruption Zone on Medication Safety in Intensive Care Units
2010
Critical Care Nurse
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 30
Pages 21-29
Author(s): Anthony, K., Wiencek, C., Bauer, C., Daly, B., Anthony, M. K.
The authors conducted a quasi-experimental study to study the impact of a No Interruption Zone (NIZ)
Added April 2014
Challenges in Design and Transition to a Private Room Model in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
2006
Advances in Neonatal Care
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 6
Pages 271-280
Author(s): Carlson, B., Walsh, S., Wergin, T., Schwarzkopf, K., Ecklund, S.
The need for neonatal intensive care units (NICU) is increasing at a time when research suggests their designs need to change to provide a developmentally appropriate healing environment. One approach is a private room NICU model versus a large multibed ward. However, such a radical design change could be challenging to implement.
Added April 2014
Noise levels in Johns Hopkins Hospital
2005
Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 118
Pages 3629-3645
Author(s): Busch-Vishniac, I. J., West, J. E., Bamhill, C., Hunter, T., Orellana, D., Chivukula, R.
Patients, visitors, and staff often complain about the amount of noise in hospital settings. However, in addition to being annoying and disrupting sleep, some research suggests that high sound levels negatively affect the speed of wound healing and the number of medications, as well as contributing to staff stress and burnout.
Added April 2014
Physical Design, Social Climate, and Staff Turnover in Skilled Nursing Facilities
1990
Journal of Long Term Care Adminstration
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 18
Pages 22-27
Author(s): Brennan, P. L., Moos, R. H.
High staff turnover in skilled nursing facilities increases workloads, recruitment, hiring, and training as well as negatively impacts morale, social relationships, and quality of care. Examining the overall work context of nursing homes—including their physical design features and social climate—could help to better understand and improve employee retention.
Added April 2014
Incidents relating to the intra-hospital transfer of critically ill patients
2004
Intensive Care Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 8
Volume 30
Pages 1579-1585
Author(s): Beckmann, U., Gillies, D. M., Berenholtz, S. M., Wu, A. W., Pronovost, P.
Transportation of critically ill patients between hospitals can increase complications. Intrahospital transportation poses many of the same risks. Examining these incidents could uncover ways to improve patient safety during transportation.
Added April 2014
Noise Levels in an Urban Hospital and Workers' Subjective Responses
1995
Archives of Environmental Health
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 50
Pages 247-251
Author(s): Bayo, M. V., Garcia, A. M., Armando, G.
Noise has become a major environmental problem as well as a public health concern, resulting in a wide range of negative consequences. Despite healthcare facilities’ attempts to foster favorable environments to assist in patient recovery and staff working conditions, noise levels are often higher than desirable in and around hospitals. There is a need to identify the main noisy areas and noise sources and evaluate the hospital staff’s reactions to noise.
Added April 2014
Using a Task Analysis to Describe Nursing Work in Acute Care Patient Environments
2009
Journal of Nursing Administration
Journal Article
Issue 12
Volume 39
Pages 537-547
Author(s): Battisto, D., Pak, R., Vander Wood, M. A., Pilcher, J. J.
A growing body of research demonstrates linkages between workplace design and processes in healthcare facilities with staff and patient safety, operational efficiency, staff satisfaction, and medical errors. There has been less emphasis on the role of the built environment in helping or hindering care delivery. Research is needed on the contextualized activities performed by nurses and how nurses spend their time to measure the effects of interventions aimed at redesigning care to improve safety or efficiency or to understand the implications of policy changes for nursing practice.
Added April 2014
Patient Satisfaction in Women’s Clinics Versus Traditional Primary Care Clinics in the Veterans Administration
Issue 3
Volume 18
Pages 175-181
Author(s): Bean-Mayberry, B., Chang, C-C., McNeil, M., Whittle, J., Hayes, P., Hudson Scholle, S.
Female patients are more satisfied with the care they receive at women’s clinics (WCs) than traditional primary care clinics (TCs). This study is important because the data collected indicate that female patients are more satisfied in WCs than in TCs, regardless of age and race.
Added March 2014
Interventions for the prevention of falls in older adults: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials
Issue 7441
Volume 328
Pages 680-686
Author(s): Chang, J.T., Morton, S.C, Rubenstein, L. Z., Mojica, W.A., Maglione, M., Suttorp, M.J., Shekelle, P. G.
Falls are a major health concern for older adults worldwide, not only because of the potential for fractures and head injuries, but also for the emotional toll—the fear and anxiety—that can develop as a result of an injury or close call. While the literature on fall interventions is vast, there is limited understanding about the best methods for preventing falls. The authors conducted an extensive review and analysis of relevant, rigorous research trials to assess the relative effectiveness of different types of fall interventions. Under comparison were falls risk assessment and management programs, exercise programs, environmental modification programs, and educational interventions.
Added March 2014
Effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention on falls in nursing home residents
2003
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 51
Pages 306–313
Author(s): Becker, C., Kron, M., Lindemann, U., Sturm, E., Eichner, B., Walter-Jung, B., Nikolaus, T.
Older people are particularly susceptible to falls and fractures due to mobility limitations and physical instability. Falls and fractures commonly result in functional deterioration, increased medical costs, and increased burden for all involved in the care setting. Attempts to prevent falls and reduce fall and fracture incidence rates both at home and in long-term care facilities span from educational interventions to adjustments of medication intake to environmental adaptations.
Added March 2014
Simple Additions to the Pharmacy Waiting Area May Increase Patient Satisfaction
2004
Journal of the American Pharmacists
Journal Article
Issue 5
Volume 44
Pages 630-632
Author(s): Cheng, C.
Simple changes to pharmacy waiting areas, such as hanging posters related to the prescription filling process, are linked to patient satisfaction with a pharmacy.
Added March 2014
How private is your consultation? Acoustic and audiological measures of speech privacy in the otolaryngology clinic
Issue 1
Volume 268
Pages 143-146
Author(s): Clamp, P. S., Grant, D. G., Zapala, D. A., Hawkins, D. B.
Although acoustic privacy is desirable during healthcare-related conversations, the authors show that patient-doctor conversations in clinic consultation rooms may not be acoustically private.
Added March 2014
