Promoting physical activity in rural communities: Walking trail access, use, and effects
2000
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Journal Article
Issue 3
Volume 18
Pages 235-241
Author(s): Brownson, R. C., Housemann, R. A., Brown, D. R., Jackson-Thompson, J, King, A. C., Malone, B. R., Sallis, J. F.
The health benefits of physical activity are well established. Physical activity contributes to a lower risk of coronary heart disease, as well as a variety of other chronic diseases including hypertension, non-insulin-dependent diabetes (Type 2), osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis. To promote physical activity, more environmental and policy strategies are needed. Examples of environmental and policy approaches to increase physical activity include walking and bicycle trails, liability legislation, zoning and land use, mall walking programs, building construction that encourages physical activity, policies and incentives promoting physical activity during the workday, and policies requiring comprehensive school physical health education programs.
Added April 2014
Considering the impact of medicine label design characteristics on patient safety
2006
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 5-6
Volume 49
Pages 617-30
Author(s): Hellier, E. , Edworthy, J. , Derbyshire, N. , Costello, A.
The premise of this study is that there is sufficient evidence-based research in areas such as food labeling, chemical labeling, and general warnings that provides systematic evidence on the effects of medication label design characteristics such as font size, color, use of specific language and signal words/warnings on performance behavioral variables such as safety, compliance, understandability, and discriminability.
Added April 2014
Effectiveness of overhead lifting devices in reducing the risk of injury to care staff in extended care facilities
2005
Ergonomics
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 48
Pages 187-199
Author(s): Engst, C., Chhokar, R. , Miller, A., Tate, R. B., Yassi, A.
Healthcare facilities often install mechanical lifts to help staff avoid injuries from patient handling. However, some mechanical lifts require more time and space and are not always as comfortable, safe, and secure as manual patient handling. Few studies have used a prospective controlled design to evaluate the effectiveness of ceiling lifts in reducing risk of musculoskeletal injury to care staff; increasing staff satisfaction; and assessing preferred methods of lifting, transferring, and repositioning residents.
Added April 2014
Suicide in recently admitted psychiatric inpatients: a case-control study
2013
Journal of Affective Disorders
Journal Article
Issue 1-2
Volume 144
Pages 123-128
Author(s): Hunt, M., Bickley, H., Windfuhr, K., Shaw, J., Appleby, L., Kapur, N.
Research studies have shown that the risk of hospitalized patients dying by suicide is still extremely high—around 40 to 50 times higher than in the general population. A number of studies have reported that the first week of admission is a time of particularly acute risk.
Added April 2014
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
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
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
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
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
Falls and Patient Mobility in Critical Care: Keeping Patients and Staff Safe
Issue 3
Volume 20
Pages 267-276
Author(s): Flanders, S. A., Harrington, L., Fowler, R. J.
A main priority in hospitals in the U.S. is ensuring both patient and staff safety throughout a patient’s stay. Falls are a major concern in hospitals, particularly in critical care units (ICUs), where nurses care for increasingly older populations that are prone to falls and injuries from falls. Another issue that arises in intensive care units is the decision of when it is safe to mobilize patients, a relevant consideration in relation to incidence of falls and durations of hospital stay.
Added March 2014
The built environment as a component of quality care: understanding and including the patient’s perspective
Issue 7
Volume 25
Pages 352-362
Author(s): Fowler, E., MacRae, S., Stern, A., Harrison, T., Gerteis, M., Walker, J., Edgman-Levitan, S., Ruga, W.
There are eight consistent attributes that patients and family members look for in healthcare environments.
Added March 2014
Medical Gas Cylinder and Bulk Tank Storage
2012
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Monograph
Author(s): McLaughlin, S., Dagenais, D.
There are particular requirements for storing medical gas cylinders as well as requirements for bulk tank storage in healthcare settings; these regulatory requirements exist specifically for cylinders that are not in use. In use refers to cylinders being used by a patient, or attached to equipment and ready for immediate use, or located in patient rooms about to be used. Requirements vary depending on the total amount of cubic feet of gas needing to be stored, with the most stringent regulations for more than 3,000 cubic feet of gas, less stringent requirements for 300-3,000 cubic feet of gas, and the least stringent requirements for less than 300 cubic feet of gas. These requirements are in place to reduce the risk of accident and injury.
Added March 2014
Converting Medical/Surgical Units for Safe Use by Psychiatric Patients: The Physical and Fiscal Risks
2011
American Society for Healthcare Engineering
Monograph
Author(s): Hunt, J. M., Sine, D. M.
When repurposing medical/surgical units as behavioral health units, there are a significant number of elements within the physical environment that must be modified to support the specialized needs of the patients and reduce the risk of self-harm and harm to others. While intention for self-harm cannot be reliably assessed, suicide is a major concern on psychiatric units, and therefore there is a need to design the unit as if all patients may be at risk for self-harm.
Added March 2014
Acuity-Adaptable Patient Room Improves Length of Stay and Cost of Patients Undergoing Renal Transplant: A Pilot Study
2013
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 36
Pages 181-194
Author(s): Bonuel, N., Degracia, A., Cesario, S.
As patient room design has evolved to accommodate changes in clinical services, operational trends, and new technologies, the acuity-adaptable patient room concept has emerged. In an acuity-adaptable room, patients are cared for across the continuum, from intake to discharge regardless of their progress or condition. This is a departure from the current standard care delivery, where patients move from unit to unit and room to room depending on the level of care acuity.
Added March 2014
Review of the Literature: Acuity-Adaptable Patient Room
2013
Critical Care Nursing Quarterly
Journal Article
Issue 2
Volume 36
Pages 251–271
Author(s): Bonuel, N. , Cesario, S.
Acuity-adaptable rooms allow patients to stay in one room from the time they are admitted to when they leave, regardless of their acuity level. These specially equipped private rooms are staffed by nurses who have the skills and training to support the complete range of care for patients with similar conditions or disease processes. The rooms are larger in size than a regular hospital room to accommodate various patients’ needs as their condition changes, such as critical care equipment, additional staff, procedures, and family members.
Added March 2014
The impact of health facilities on healthcare workers’ well-being and performance
2009
International Journal of Nursing Studies
Journal Article
Issue 7
Volume 46
Pages 1025–1034
Author(s): Rechel, B., Buchan, J., McKee, M.
There is extensive research on the effect of healthcare environments on patients. But much less is known about health facilities’ impact the staff, even while there is growing recognition of the need for healthy working environments. Poor healthcare working environments can relate to the nature of the work—long and antisocial hours, little administrative support, physical labor, and, sometimes, violence.
Added February 2014
Implementing a Pediatric Obesity Care Guideline in a Freestanding Children’s Hospital to Improve Child Safety and Hospital Preparedness
2012
Journal of Pediatric Nursing
Journal Article
Issue 6
Volume 27
Pages 707–714
Author(s): Porter, R. M., Thrasher, J, Krebs, N. F.
Over the past three decades, the number of children who are overweight has grown, with the greatest increase among those categorized as severely obese. Providing healthcare for these children is complicated, yet there is little information about the patient, provider, and institutional needs for the severely obese pediatric patient.
Added February 2014
