Citation

Joseph A, Henriksen K, Malone E. Health Aff. (Hope) 2018; 37(11): 1884-1891.

Affiliation

Eileen Malone is a Realizing Improved Patient Care through Human Centered Design in the Operating Room advisory board member, School of Architecture, Clemson University.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Project HOPE - The People-to-People Health Foundation)

DOI

10.1377/hlthaff.2018.0643

PMID

30395500

Abstract

There is a lack of awareness regarding the pervasive influence of the built environment on caregiving activities, and how its design could reduce risks for patients and providers. This article presents a narrative review summarizing key findings that link health care facility design to key targeted safety outcomes: health care-associated infections, falls, and medication errors. It describes how facility design should be considered in conjunction with quality improvement legislation; projects under way in health systems; and the work of guideline-setting organizations, funding agencies, industry, and educational institutions. The article also charts a path forward that consolidates existing challenges and suggests what can be done about them to create safe and high-quality health care environments.

Language: en

Keywords

Architecture; Physical environment; patient safety; systems approach