Course Description
In healthcare facilities, daylighting, aesthetics, and the flexible use of space can promote healing for patients and allow healthcare workers to spend more time treating patients and less time adapting a space for their ever-changing needs. Decisions made during the design and build process not only affect patient outcomes—they can also affect the amount of time and money spent on installation, maintenance, and energy costs over the life of the building. In this article, we'll discuss "the cost of healing" as it pertains to sustainable design and the overall cost of healthcare. We'll also discuss how specifying high-quality materials can lead to lower costs and maintenance over time, allowing healthcare workers and administrators to focus on their patients rather than spending precious time and resources on building maintenance and loss of occupancy during renovation projects. We'll also discuss how this sustainable approach leads to the health, safety, and welfare of occupants while also reducing the amount of waste and building materials going to the landfill.
Learning objectives:
- Explain the benefits of daylighting and its effect on the health, safety, and welfare of patients.
- List building features that lead to energy efficiency, sustainable design, and occupant comfort.
- Describe how materials provide a systems approach that positively impacts patient safety and outcomes.
- Assess how high-quality materials lead to long-term cost savings and reduction of waste.
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