Chapter 14 Commercial Interior Design Applications 487 Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. Hospitals are reevaluating what needs to remain in the patient room. Even the use of cubicle curtains for patient privacy is falling out of favor, since numerous people touch them when passing by. New designs of specially treated fabrics or disposable curtains may mitigate this problem. Because they harbor infection, hospitals are also reducing the number of horizontal surfaces in patient rooms. Manufacturers are taking a fresh look at infection-resistant computer keyboards and monitor controls for the same reason. The creation of patient rooms that bridge care levels from medical/surgical (acute) to intermediate (step-down) to critical (intensive) care continues to be a strong need. This allows for the universal design of patient units for use with multiple levels of care at the same time, or changes from one level to the next over time. Many hospitals allow patients to remain in their rooms when their conditions change for better or worse, with accord- ing adjustments to staffi ng levels. The key elements of design for adaptable patient rooms continue to include ■ Toilet rooms. Most facilities opt to include enclosed toilet rooms with showers in all patient rooms, including critical care. This allows patients to remain in their rooms as they gain mobility. It also allows families to remain with their loved ones in the higher care-level settings. ■ Visibility versus privacy. The debate continues regarding how much visibility healthcare staff require of patients, especially in the critical care setting. All agree that there must be visualization of critical care and intermediate care patients in certain situations. To avoid moving patients to visualize them, this requires glass windows and/or doors in all rooms. ■ Flexible headwall confi gurations. A headwall is the wall unit at the top of the patient’s bed that contains electronics and access to life-saving equipment for the patient. New headwall products from several major manufacturers allow more fl exible installation and reconfi guration of medical gases, power, and low-voltage systems than ever before. ■ Space relationships. Effective use of universal design in decreasing the distance between the patient bed and the toilet helps patients remain more self-suffi cient and makes it easier for staff to help those patients who require assistance in transferring from the bed to toilet. Waiting Rooms As you may know, spending time waiting is in healthcare settings. You may wait to hear the staff call your name for a doctor appointment, or you wait for a friend or loved one during his or her visit. Often highly emotional, waiting can seem to last a long time. For those who are anxious in healthcare settings, waiting time may seem even longer. What are some things to include when designing a waiting room that helps promote a positive experience for people who use the space? First consider the seating. There is a wide variety of people who use waiting rooms—ranging from those of differing ages and genders to those with varying illnesses and concerns. Each person has distinct needs. Since people like to congregate in groups of different sizes, consider using movable furniture that can be repositioned to fi t the needs of each group. In addition, using different sizes of seating helps people fi nd what best meets their needs. A variety of seating adds to the interest of the space more so than the same style row after row. By mixing lounge chairs, extra-wide heavy-duty seating (bariatric), recliners, and tables with chairs, and children’s seating that all share similar design elements (usually from the same vendor/product line), you can offer expanded options for users. Be mindful of the continual use of these areas, too. Specifying materials and fi nishes that will weather high levels of use and abuse enhances durability. It is also wise to provide a number of areas that can accommodate a wide variety of activities. When there are options and choices for using a space, users feel a greater sense of control over what they want to do and when and where they do it. Time seems to pass faster when there are activities to help pass the time. For instance, while waiting in a healthcare facility, some people enjoy watching television and like to be more active and noisy. Some like time to be quiet and read, Figure 14-6. Others enjoy a cup of coffee, watch people, or talk with people who are also waiting. Others, still, spend time checking their e-mail or play games. When designing a space, try to carve out specifi c areas to accommodate various activities. How does a stunning outdoor view lift your spirits and change the way you feel? How do windows help decrease feelings of isolation? To truly support a healing environment, consider providing a connection to nature. For instance, an interior or exterior water feature may have a calming effect and can help people relax.