Design Recommendations For Health Care Facilities From The Experts

Design Recommendations For Health Care Facilities From The Experts

HERD, or Health Environments Research and Design Journal published "Understanding the Role of Facility Design in the Acquisition and Prevention of Healthcare Associated Infections" as a special supplement sponsored by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).   The Guest Editorial by Carolyn M Clancy, MD is the Director of the AHRQ and Assistant Deputy under Secretary for Health, Quality, Safety and Value at the US Department of Veterans Affairs.  She emphasized how combatting healthcare associated infections (HAIs) is a high priority goal of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  Clinicians and architects need to come to the table in order for this evolution to take place.   The layout, placement of equipment and ease of access to materials has the ability to improve safety and prevent infection.  Air filtration systems reduce transmission of organisms.  Sinks and hand sanitizing tools need to be strategically placed.  Reduced patient room clutter should be minimized with built in chairs/sofas.  Surfaces need to be antimicrobial or easy to decontaminate.  Waiting rooms are best designed in clinics with a side for sick people and a side for well people.    This resource describes the "chain of transmission" intervention model to highlight ways to design facilities.  Standards and guidelines on design recommendation are issued by many organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control, the EPA, LEED, the NIH and the American Society for Plumbing Engineers.    Future blogs will outline other parts of this document.

Author: Roxanne Tyroch
Phone: 915-261-4377
Dated: January 23rd 2014
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