Design approaches for healthcare

Posted November 27, 2009 17:41:00

Isabel Berenguer Asuncion

Philippine Daily Inquirer

THEY SAY that the baby boom generation is the largest generation. It is also probably today, the largest beneficiary of healthcare services in the world. As the older members are into their 60s and needing more ambulatory care, the younger members are in their 40s, the age where the body starts to slow and the signs of aging start to creep in, and visits to the hospital become an annual routine.

When I was younger, hospitals used to scare me! There was something in the institutional whites, pastel blues and greens that made it feel so clinical and “antiseptic.” Today, the newer hospitals model themselves after hospitality facilities like hotels and lodges, in an attempt to erase the notions of clinical spaces and keeping that obvious only within procedure rooms where functionality is the prime consideration.

From a visitor’s or patient’s vantage point, the experience within a healthcare facility—from admission to going to different areas for various tests, exams, consultations and in-patient confinement—can greatly affect a person’s state of mind and alter his/her perception of the the quality of care and comfort he/she receives. While the physical care is paramount to a patient’s diagnosis and recovery, the whole visual experience can support his/her path to both mental and bodily wellness.

Pivotal role

Like any other space, light and ventilation play a pivotal role in providing feelings of well-being. A room without windows or natural light makes uplifting a patient’s emotions quite difficult. Without natural light, one loses track of the cycles of the day and displaces with the natural rhythms that are strongly established by sunlight and give certain cues to the body. Moreover, the quality of illumination from artificial lighting can be harsh as compared to natural light. A window with a view provides a distraction from the static hospital room and the seemingly long hours of waiting or the endless days in confinement.

Effective way-finding signages systems reduce both patient stress and anxiety and dictates the efficiency of both patient and hospital flow. While more traditional systems relied merely on texts to communicate directions, the improved systems utilize text font, size and color, pictograms, graphic icons and printed orientation maps to easily point out directions.

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