When you are admitted to the hospital for a health issue, it is likely that you will spend most of your time in the hospital room. This can be frustrating for patients and their families, especially if they are waiting to see the doctor or get a clean bill of health before being discharged. Having the right hospital room is important for patient comfort and recovery.
Every hospital room is set up to be a healing space for the patient. The most common layout of a hospital room is a bed with curtains that surround it on all four sides, a television with cable, and a bathroom with a shower or bathtub. In addition, hospitals often provide a refrigerator and snacks for patients. Some hospitals also have private rooms that are used for more intensive medical care.
The hospital room must serve three different functions: comfort for the patient, a calming environment for family members, and an efficient working space for hospital staff. Architects and designers must find ways to design the hospital room to meet all of these needs without disrupting the workflow or causing stress for staff or patients.
For example, a hospital should design the staff zone to be near the entrance of the room to promote efficiency in work flow and minimize disruptions for patients. This way, the hospital staff can quickly access tools and supplies in a streamlined manner while keeping them within sight of patients. The patient zone should be located in the middle of the room to allow patients and their family to sit comfortably without disturbing staff or affecting their workflow. The visitor zone should be at the back of the room to give visitors a quiet place away from the occupied patient zones.
A good hospital will have a system in place to communicate the cost of staying in the room to their patients and make sure the patient understands the fee structure. For instance, if you have an insurance plan that covers semi-private rooms and you upgrade to a private room for convenience, your insurance provider will likely reduce the cost of all of your other hospital fees by a percentage or amount determined by the insurance company. If you are unsure, check with your insurance provider and the hospital to be clear on the fee situation.
In the final analysis, a patient’s ability to sleep during their hospital stay is critical to their overall recovery. If they are unable to sleep at night, their body will be unable to heal. Therefore, it is a good idea for patients to bring non-medical items that will help them to sleep, like comfortable pajamas, sleeping masks and ear plugs.
If you are a patient at the hospital, you can request your preferred accommodation by completing the Preferred Accommodation Program Form, which is available in most departments. Most extended health benefits cover the Preferred Accommodation Program, which provides a revenue stream for the hospital to invest in ongoing operations, including patient care.