The average hospital room can feel like a prison cell. This is largely due to the fact that hospitals are full of people who are sick, anxious and in need of medical care.
Fortunately, architects can design spaces that support staff workflows and provide patients with a calming environment in which to rest. Hospital rooms can be improved with small changes that can dramatically impact patient satisfaction and staff efficiency.
When you enter a hospital, you will likely be asked questions by nurses who take your vital signs and assess your overall health. Once you are admitted, a nurse will help you get settled into your hospital room. You will be assigned a bed and a nurse will show you how to use your call button. You will also receive a list of the facilities in your room. These include the bathroom, TV and internet access. Some hospital rooms even have a sofa or sitting area.
In general, your hospital room will have a patient cot or bed, a tray table, a trash and sharps bin, two visitor chairs, an overbed table, a rolling doctor’s chair and a television. The size of the hospital room will vary depending on the unit and whether it is private or shared. In addition, your room may have a window and a private bathroom with a shower stall.
Some hospitals use curtains to give patients some privacy when they are in a shared room. However, these do not block out sound well. Having a shared room can be a nuisance, especially if the other patients are elderly and uncooperative or have dementia and sleep a lot. Having a private room is usually more comfortable and convenient.
A typical hospital room will have a phone and internet access, a TV with local channels, Direct TV and special health stations. Hospital volunteers can bring newspapers, magazines and books to your room. You can also request a radio with closed captions and Spanish programs. The facility will determine what is available to you based on your health needs.
Hospital rooms must have clear lines of sight for nurses to easily observe patients. They must also be able to accommodate varying acuity levels, which means that patient rooms need to be flexible. Architects can achieve these goals by designing rooms with flexible furniture, acoustics and lighting.
In a U-shaped or C-shaped layout, it is easier for nurses to monitor multiple patients from one central location. They can also integrate equipment into the ceiling to save space and improve visibility.
Lastly, incorporating white noise sound masking systems and super-sound-insulating HVAC systems can reduce noise levels in rooms located near high-traffic work areas. This can be particularly helpful for maternity and surgical units.
As a result, hospitals are able to better manage the influx of patients and provide them with a higher level of service. Hospitals can also increase revenue by improving patient satisfaction. Patients are reimbursed for up to 2% of their total cost of treatment for high satisfaction ratings. This is because the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services link hospital patient reimbursements to customer satisfaction.