Healthcare Facility Design Principles Flashcards

What is the primary EBD rationale for incorporating outdoor gardens and green spaces in healthcare facilities?

Answer: Access to nature reduces patient stress, pain perception, and recovery time

Research consistently shows that access to nature lowers cortisol levels, reduces pain medication use, and shortens hospital stays.

Which design strategy best supports infection control in an ICU according to EBD evidence?

Answer: Single-patient private rooms with positive or negative pressure capability

Private rooms with pressure-control capabilities prevent cross-contamination between patients and allow isolation of infectious cases.

In EBD, standardized room design refers to:

Answer: Identical room layouts across a unit to reduce staff errors from unfamiliar environments

Standardized room layouts allow staff to locate equipment and supplies quickly regardless of which room they are working in, reducing errors.

Which positioning of handwashing sinks is most supported by EBD for maximizing compliance?

Answer: Immediately inside the room entrance, visible upon entry

Sinks placed at the room entry are visible reminders and accessible to staff the moment they enter, proven to raise hand hygiene rates.

EBD research on noise in hospitals most strongly recommends which intervention to improve sleep?

Answer: Sound-absorbing ceiling tiles and reduced nighttime staff conversation

Acoustic ceiling tiles absorb ambient sound while behavioral protocols reducing nighttime noise together produce the strongest evidence-based noise reduction.

What is the EBD-supported role of artwork and aesthetics in patient care environments?

Answer: Nature-based art reduces anxiety and can lower the perception of pain

Research shows nature imagery and representational art reduce patient anxiety and pain perception, while abstract or chaotic imagery may increase stress.