Making Hospitals More Hospitable

The shift in modern healthcare settings and how strategic choices in elements of the built environment can contribute to patient well-being and recovery.

Key Points

• Research suggests a strong correlation between the quality of design in healthcare facilities and patient outcomes, linked to reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure, decreased painkiller usage and improved recovery.
• Patients with views of nature experienced shorter hospital stays, reduced pain medication use, and fewer negative evaluations than those facing brick walls.
• Aesthetic appeal in healthcare facilities also impacts employee productivity and well-being, making the work environment more comfortable, calming and welcoming.

• Colour has also been found to influence mood, reduce anxiety and instil a more comfortable atmosphere.

Recent research has indicated a strong correlation between the quality of design in healthcare facilities and resulting patient outcomes, with links to reduced anxiety, lower blood pressure, decreased painkiller usage and improved overall recovery. As healthcare executives grapple with the dual challenges of elevating care standards whilst managing costs, the strategic implementation of warm, welcoming, patient-centred spaces over predominantly clinical functionality offers a promising solution.

This article explores this paradigm shift in modern healthcare settings and discusses how strategic choices in elements of the built environment can significantly contribute to patient well-being and recovery.

The Impact of Design on Clinical Outcomes

A growing body of research points to the impact of thoughtful interior design on clinical outcomes. Professor Roger Ulrich, a pioneer in healthcare design, laid the groundwork for this movement in 1984, with his seminal paper, “View Through A Window May Influence Recovery From Surgery”(Ulrich 1984). Published in Science, this study demonstrated that patients with views of nature experienced shorter hospital stays, reduced pain medication use, and fewer negative evaluations, compared to those facing brick walls.

More recent studies have shown how natural light regulated hormone secretion, improves circadian rhythms and reduces perceived stress, pain, and – in turn – the use of pain medication (UCL 2021). And evidence suggests that exposure to real or artificial depictions of nature can reduce levels of stress (Beukeboom et al. 2012) in healthcare settings.

These benefits don’t relate solely to patients; aesthetic appeal has also been found to impact employee productivity and well-being (Jin et al. 2022). For staff working in any hospital environment, they are often subject to demanding and stressful schedules, working long, irregular hours while coping with the emotional toll of patient suffering and loss.

If more comfortable, calming and welcoming environments can help to reduce stress and irritability, the consequence is that workers will be more productive and attentive to patients, thus providing a better standard of care. In the UK, as the NHS experiences substantial staffing challenges, it is essential that every effort is made to promote employee well-being.

Colour Theory in Practice

It’s clear from this research why managers are reassessing the role that good, well-considered interior design can play in improving patient outcomes and staff productivity. While this may include everything from acoustics to ergonomics, the use of colour has been found to have an influence on mood (Ghamari and Amor 2016).

Though white was once the go-to colour for hospitals, soft blues and pastel greens are increasingly employed in therapy and operating rooms to reduce anxiety, while warmer tones of orange, yellow and beige may be used in common areas like hallways and waiting rooms, to instil a welcoming and more comfortable atmosphere.

An example of this can be found in the recent work at the Kolding super-hospital in Denmark. With an overall design ethos based on the principle of 'Healing Architecture', Kolding hospital is unique in that every aspect of the décor is focused on creating an environment that fosters positivity and comfort.

Inspired by the quiet calm of the forest, a rich shade of green brings a sense of peace into the hospital from the forecourt up to the wards. Then, a calming blue colourway symbolises the serenity of the sky. In certain rooms and areas, a third and final golden palette affords a sense of warmth and optimism for patients and visitors.

From a functionality perspective, the strategic use of colour can also be utilised in signage and wayfinding systems to help individuals navigate complex hospital layouts more easily, further minimising anxiety and confusion.

Working Smarter, Not Harder

Great hospital design isn't just about aesthetics; it’s also important to consider the functional details that can contribute to the overall ambience and experience.

Take, for example, the adoption of privacy glass. Inherently, patients in critical care facilities require around the clock monitoring and access to rapid medical intervention, should an emergency arise. Set amongst the widespread use of simple blinds and curtains, this often results in frequent noise disturbances for other patients while also minimising exposure to natural light.

Innovative glass solutions are starting to address these challenges, allowing patients and visitors the benefit of privacy, while enabling care providers to monitor them when necessary, with minimal disruption. The daylight-filled spatial qualities of this glass also contribute to creating a welcoming and bright ambience for in-patients.

Healing Designs

Sir Winston Churchill once famously said, "We shape our buildings; thereafter, they shape us." The inference is that the buildings, spaces and architecture we surround ourselves with are far more than just a place to stay or reside. Instead, we should recognise how they can impact our emotions, physiological responses and, in the case of healthcare environments, our recovery outcomes.

Together, we have a moral duty to reprioritise healthcare design and create spaces that are as warm, healing and hospitable as possible for the thousands of people who are required to experience them each day.

Conflict of Interest

None.