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Articles and Publications

Does One Size Fit All?

October 1, 2008 / Dochitect / Commentaries & Event Reviews

Commentaries

Publication: World Health Design
Publication Reference: 2008;(1)3:20-21.
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2008_COVER-one-sizeIncreasingly recognised as an industry standard in the US, in other areas of the world the jury is still out on the 100% single patient room model of care.

In the Canadian system, existing hospital wards contain an assortment of patient room types, including private, shared and the four-person ward room. But As the US moves towards a private room healthcare model for new construction, does ‘one size’ fit all? Before this design guideline becomes the industry standard, we must consider the issue from both a medical and a design perspective. Are private rooms beneficial for all patient populations? Will this design concept alter important psychological and social aspects which accompany the process of illness and healing? How will this change the experience of hospitalization?

Read several expert opinions that consider when, where and for whom single patient rooms are appropriate.

Commentaries

Patient and Family Preferences for the Design of a Palliative Care Unit

April 1, 2008 / Dochitect / Design for Palliative Care

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Publication: World Health Design
Publication Reference: 2008;1(1):62-67.
Author: Diana Anderson, MArch, MD Candidate, Class of 2008, University of Toronto
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2008_PALL-CARE-COVERThe primary purpose of this qualitative study was to identify what palliative care patients and their families perceive to be important elements in the design of a palliative care unit (PCU) for end-of-life care. Secondary objectives included exploring whether differences in preferences and perceptions exist between patients and family members. This study looked at the palliative care population of Bridgepoint Hospital in Toronto, Canada, and evaluated patient and family preferences for room design and layout, as well as preference for private versus shared accommodations.

Click here to view the study which includes patient and family room preferences towards the end of life, in addition to palliative care unit design recommendations.

Additional Press:

Note This study, “Patient and Family Preferences for the Design of a Palliative Care Unit,” was presented at the Design & Health 5th World Congress and Exhibition: International Academy for Design and Health, Glasgow, Scotland. June 30, 2007.

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Conference Presentations, Peer-Reviewed Publications

The Palliative Care Unit: Does Room Design Matter?

April 1, 2008 / Dochitect / Design for Palliative Care

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Publication: University of Toronto Medical Journal
Publication Date: 2007;84(3):183-189.
Author: Diana Anderson, B.Sc., M.Arch.
View article

Abstract

2009_UTMJ COVERObjectives: The primary purpose of this needs assessment study, which looked at the palliative care population of Bridgepoint Hospital, Toronto, was to describe what patients and their families perceive to be important elements in the design of a hospital palliative care unit (PCU) for end-of-life care.

Methods: Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted (six patients and six family members), using a set of nine standard questions. The qualitative philosophy of phenomenology was used for data analysis. Themes identified were grouped into two categories: I) External Reality and II) Internal Experience.

Results: In the External Reality category, participants identified eight themes: room size, noise, light, storage, temperature, colour, washrooms, and social spaces. Families identified additional factors: ventilation, furniture and hallways as social spaces. In the Internal Experience category, both groups identified privacy and autonomy. Shared rooms were mentioned in reference to companionship, social interaction, patient compatibility, visitor experiences and observing the dying process. Family members felt that room type should be based on the stage of illness, and expressed a need for spaces that promote participation in care.

Conclusions: Patients and their family members defined key issues related to end-of-life care and the physical environment. The preferences of both patients and their families demonstrate the need for a sensitive design approach to an environment for the terminally ill – one that provides a variety of private and social spaces.

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Designed for Discovery: The Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research

July 31, 2007 / Dochitect / Evidence-Based Design

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Publication: Canadian Medical Association Journal
Publication Reference: 2007 Jul 31;177(3):272–273
Authors: Fiona Menzies, MSc; Diana Anderson, MD, MArch
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CCBR---Figure-1

The Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research created an international buzz in the architectural community after receiving a prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects’ International Award, recognizing high architectural standards and contribution to the local environment. Located at the heart of the medical and health sciences district in the city of Toronto, this 2005 addition to the University of Toronto, was designed by Behnisch, Behnisch and Partner of Stuttgart, Germany, in collaboration with architectsAlliance of Toronto.

This research building sets a standard for the future of research facility design, and perhaps other medical buildings as well, as medical treatments involving multidisciplinary associations become increasingly important, both in research and clinical settings.

Read more about this design approach of incorporating architectural elements in order to promote discussion, collaboration and forward-thinking.

CCBR---Figure-2 Peer-Reviewed Publications
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