Healthcare flooring can help facilitate patient rehabilitation

An interior designer examines how healthcare flooring in one rehabilitation hospital helps to facilitate patient care.

By Healthcare Facilities Today


In the healthcare design industry there is a lot of discussion about how evidence-based design can be used to reduce patient health risks, from using materials that help prevent the spread of infection or patient falls, to floor plans that provide better patient visibility. 

But in a recent blog post, “Zooming in: Healthcare flooring as a rehabilitation tool,” interior designer Sarah Norville Peinhardt of Gresham, Smith and Partners examines how healthcare flooring can also be used to facilitate patient care.

In her blog, Peinhardt discusses the flooring design of the new 48,000-square-foot HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital in Cypress, Texas. The 40-bed hospital provides comprehensive inpatient and outpatient physical and occupational therapy services. 

The floors in the hospital’s hallways and gym are designed with repeating patterns (measured in meters) that match distance markers in most standard gait tests. This allows therapists to observe patients’ progress in more natural conditions, because patients are not aware their gait is being assessed. 

It also means that therapists do not need a special area to test patients, and every step a patient takes is part of recovery and rehabilitation. The floor patterns also serve as an effective wayfinding tool for patients and visitors alike, the blog states. 





April 2, 2013


Topic Area: Interior Design


Recent Posts

On the Lookout: The Software Supply Chain as a Healthcare Cyberattack Vector

Staying watchful of third-party software vendors and their activities is critical for healthcare cybersecurity.


Hackensack Meridian Health & Wellness Center at Clifton Opens

The Clifton center expands health care access in Passaic County by reducing barriers such as travel and wait times.


Suffolk Breaks Ground on Expansion of White Plains Hospital

The 10-story, approximately 500,000-square-foot expansion is slated to open in 2028.


EVS Leadership Culture Critical in Preventing Hospital-Acquired Sepsis

Cleaning is an essential yet complex component for the prevention of HAI-induced sepsis.


Man Dies by Suicide in Emergency Department Waiting Room at Kansas Hospital

No staff or patients were harmed, and the man was alone in the waiting area when he shot himself.


 
 


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.