Location, Location, Location: The Impact on Patient Care

Researchers used tracking chips to investigate the way facility layout affects patient care

By Dan Hounsell


Location is important in real estate, but it’s critical — literally — when the topic is hospital interior design and the location of patient rooms.

Researchers used tracking chips in nurses' badges to investigate the way a facility's layout affected nurses' behavior and patient care, according to Becker’s Hospital Review. The study followed five months of interactions between 217 nurses and 30,000 patients in an undisclosed hospital's emergency department.

Among the findings is that nurses visited distant rooms less frequently but for longer periods of time. Also, patients whose rooms were farther from the nurses' station waited longer in between visits and were more likely to use their call buttons more often.



June 8, 2021


Topic Area: Interior Design


Recent Posts

Hospitals Are Energy Super-Users. Why Is It So Hard to Modernize Them?

Managers face the ongoing challenge of finding a practical way to fund improvements while competing with capital priorities.


Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Bangor Officially Opens

Encompass Health Bangor is the company’s first wholly owned hospital in Maine.


Early Entry: Manager's Critical Role in Construction Planning

Facilities managers should seek a seat at the table early to shape decisions that affect operations and continuity of care from the onset.


The Evolution of Lighting in Patient Care

Lighting is a significant investment that healthcare facility managers can make to aid in healing.


HealthPartners and Essentia Health to Combine Organizations

The organizations anticipate the combination will be effective Jan. 1, 2027.


 
 


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.