Designers must balance safety and comfort at psychiatric hospitals

Facilities should reflect input from clinical staffers and former patients

By Healthcare Facilities Today


A design approach for psychiatric facilities focused totally on safety can create an inhospitable, institutional, and unlivable environment. Designers must walk a tightrope between the ultimate safe environment and an environment that is therapeutic and fosters healing, according to a recent article posted on the Healthcare Design website.

A homelike environment, however, comes with a number of safety risks.  Because of this, designers and facilities must work in conjunction with the clinical staffers on these units and gather input from former patients, to address the issue of designing healthful, therapeutic spaces for patients with psychiatric disorders, according to the article. Furniture safety, access to staff and the  potential for self-harm in patient rooms and alone should be discussed with staff.

Read the article.

 

 

 



September 4, 2013


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Cleanliness in Hospitals: Clinical Priority and Community Perception

EVS managers and communities value cleanliness for complementary reasons: managers for safety and compliance, communities for trust and comfort.


Dana-Farber Receives $50M Gift for Planned Cancer Hospital

A $50 million grant from the Yawkey Foundation will support construction of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s planned 450,000-square-foot cancer hospital.


Clarinda Regional Health Center Reports Data Security Incident

On or around December 15, 2025, Clarinda learned that certain data within its network may have been accessed without authorization.


Gaps in Nurses' Environmental Cleaning Knowledge Grow Amid Rising EVS Pressures

Environmental cleaning is crucial in preventing HAIs, but when the responsibility falls to those outside of EVS teams, problems arise. 


Ground Broken on the Southern Nevada Forensic Facility

Construction on the new secure forensic psychiatric hospital is expected to be completed in 2029.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.