A hospital room is a place where patients are treated for illnesses or injuries. It is usually equipped with a bed, a chair, a TV and a nurse call button. Some rooms are private, but others are shared by several people. Hospitals also have special rooms for babies and people with very serious conditions. In many cases, patients are allowed to bring personal items into their rooms. These include books, magazines, personal electronics and other comforts from home. These items can help make a stay in the hospital less stressful.
The room is usually decorated to look more like a home than a hospital. Some have pictures of the outside of the facility on the walls, while others have images of nature or even a bathroom to help patients feel more at ease. Some hospitals even have rooms that are designed to look like a baby nursery. This helps parents feel more at ease with having their child in the hospital.
Whether a patient’s room is private or shared, it should be designed to meet their needs. For example, patients want to know who is entering their room and what their role is, a safe for valuables and easy access to personal belongings that are often moved out of reach by staff members or other visitors. A survey of more than 35 million patient visits conducted by Patterson showed that meeting these needs improved responses to questions on the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS).
One way to improve a patient’s experience in a hospital room is to create a clear communication board that lists each person’s name, their condition and the time they are scheduled for a test or procedure. This will help the patient feel more at ease and confident that they are being seen by the right people.
Hospitals should also encourage resting times by posting quiet hours and providing earbuds to reduce noise disturbances during those times. This can help patients sleep better and be more productive during their stay in the hospital.
Some hospitals also have school programs to teach kids and teens in the hospital. This can be a big relief for parents who might not have enough time at home to take care of their children while they are in the hospital. In addition, these programs can also help students get back into their regular schooling when they are released from the hospital.