By Healthcare Facilities Today

The non-profit design firm NXT Health has developed a proposal for the hospital patient room of the future in collaboration with industry vendors, healthcare providers and healthcare thought leaders.

The project, Patient Room 2020, is on display at the DuPont Corian Design Studio in New York City. The idea, according to the project’s creative director, is to integrate new technology with design aesthetics to create an environment for optimal medical performance. 

The resulting design was described this way in a recent Wired magazine article: 

“The room is filled with curved white panels and brushed aluminum fixtures that make it feel like an iPhone — fitting since backlit displays and touch screens appear on almost every surface to give docs instant access to medical records and vital signs.”

The article goes on to describe several features of the room, including LED lights that make the sink glow red reminding caregivers to wash their hands upon entering; then when hands are properly disinfected, the sink turns green. The idea is to subtly influence healthcare professionals to better adhere to hospital hand-washing protocols. 

Read the full article and view pictures.