Whether you’re a patient or a loved one who has to stay at the hospital, a patient room needs to be comfortable and calming for patients, functional for caregivers and visitors, and fully supportive of the staff’s work. With the right design features, this can be achieved.
Hospital rooms can be private or semi-private, and some hospitals have both. The type of room you get depends on your condition and the hospital’s policy. If you are admitted for a minor condition or injury, your stay will likely be in a private room. However, if you have a serious illness or a major surgery, your room may be in a semi-private ward with other patients.
Your bed will probably be in the center of the room, with a chair and a table near it. The room will also have a window and usually a TV and phone. Most of the time, your hospital room will have its own bathroom.
In the hallways surrounding the room, you’ll find a nurse station and treatment rooms. The nurse stations are where physicians and nurses carry out their work. Treatment rooms are where they administer medications and observe vital signs.
Varied Lighting: Having dimming features in the hallways near patient rooms and nurse stations, as well as white noise sound-masking systems, helps reduce the impact of noisy work areas on sleepy patients. Ceiling-Integrated Equipment: Supporting medical equipment like patient lifts and IV poles from the ceiling opens up floor space, allowing staff to move more efficiently in the room.
A Patient-Centered Footwall: Digital footwalls can display care team and clinical information; feature entertainment options; offer telemedicine video meetings with clinicians and family members; and let patients control their room environment. They’re a must for hospitals looking to improve patient experience and outcomes.
Noise-Reducing Surfaces: Using high-density fiberglass tiles in the walls of patient rooms and other areas decreases noise levels by up to 40 percent. This allows for better restful sleep and reduced stress for patients.
Integrated USB Charging Stations: With more and more staff using mobile devices for their work, providing ample outlets in patient rooms is essential. Embedding charging stations into furniture and adding more on countertops makes it easier for nurses to keep their devices charged.
A successful hospital stay starts with preparing for your visit, making sure you understand what the medical staff is telling you and asking questions as needed. Be sure to use the nurse call button when you need something, and don’t hesitate to bring your own comfort items, like a soft blanket or a scalp massager (but only if it won’t interfere with your health conditions). Most of all, remember that you’re in the hospital to achieve a certain goal—get healthy! So try to relax and keep a positive outlook.