Evidence-based design: What evidence?
If the claims is that Mozart makes us smarter, but as a listener , on a particular day and time, the sound of the Mozart Clarinet Concerto is what we don’t want to hear…in fact, it is unnerving, who wins==our experience or the data? While hospitals continue to seek out innovative and competitive ways to improve their standards of care, evidence-based design is only now moving into the forefront as a foundation for decision making and budget allocation. However, it is not as easy as one might think to apply data drawn from studies in other communities to our own. Kirk Hamilton, architect and now professor at Texas A&M University (and a member of our advisory board) has brilliantly put forth the dillemma regarding application of design data and the unique nature of healthcare organizations and cultures. Yes, the data is critical to standardizing the healthcare setting and making it more effective. AND, it must be interpreted and used appropriately to respond the needs of the community, the patient, the family and the staff.
What does a hospital do if their location prevents “sunny rooms” which have shown to have an impact on pain management and other patient outcomes? Breaking down more walls with capital budgets that are already spent may not be the immediate solution…nor long term one. However, understanding that lighting and nature together play a role can provide other creative ways to use the research to both justify environmental changes and improve patient care. www.Informedesign.org which comes from the University of Minnesota is an invaluable resource is finding studies that have implications for hospital design.
We used and continue to use research in the field of music therapy although we are neither music therapists nor provide music in the same way. We use the implications from music therapy, environmental psychology, acoustic studies, and, most importantly, our continuing experience gathered over the past 20 years working with healthcare organizations. The experience of our hospital clients takes priority over any other kind of evidence, as that is what is real.
Evidence is not to be taken out of context. Rather, it is to be integrated into the actual situational or organizational context and used to its best intention. When it comes to human response of environments, exceptions are the rule…and must be taken as the guide to the best outcome.