Room Configurations – Several Hundred Decisions

When a designer is asked to configure a hospital room there are several hundred decisions that have to be made. Is the room beautiful? Does it have enough space? Is it functional and does it allow equipment to exist without interference? Can hospital staff maneuver as necessary to provide the utmost care?

Those high level questions have an impact on how well the design works. Ample space is given to visitors because the presence of family and friends has been shown to hasten recovery. That same space has to also work for Staff, equipment, and clean-up crews.

The rooms not only need to be functional, the form or the look have to be up-to-date too. Natural light and a view outdoors have been regarded as morale boosters and have proven to assist in recovery.

There are also many things to consider like handrails and where the sinks are positioned. It’s been proven that patients who watch the staff wash their hands are more likely to accept treatment in a non hostile way.  A handrail linking the patent’s bed and bathroom, or a short path helps to ensure that patients don’t have far to travel and will result in them falling less often.

The image shown here is from a renovation/relocation project done by Anne Marie Wikoff* of the Wikoff Design Studio. The design was implemented for Renown’s Postpartum/NICU unit.