Sometime before the turn of the last century, “The Lady with
the Lamp” advocated
the use of natural sunlight and soothing colors to create a relaxing setting
that would encourage healing. Research has confirmed that Florence Nightingale
was right1. Patients in well-designed
hospital rooms experience less anxiety, require less pain medication and have
shorter hospital stays, according to The
Center for Health Design, an organization of health care and design professionals
that uses evidence-based research to develop standards for functional hospital
designs.
Hospitals have always employed architects, of course, but
didn’t necessarily heed Florence’s advice. That has been changing and in a big
way. “Positive
distractions,” such as beautiful artwork, give patients something to focus on,
other than their discomfort from medical procedures.2 Sky Ridge Medical Center in south Denver ranked an
impressive 7 out of 25 in The 25
Most Amazing Modern Hospitals in the World published in April, 2015 by the Best Master of Science in Nursing Degrees
organization. The ranking came in no small part to its extensive art collection with pieces selected
specifically “to bring aesthetic beauty and a sense of home to guests.” Note
they don’t have patients, they have guests!
Still, we tend to visualize hospitals as well as urgent care
facilities and out-patient treatment centers as bright white boxes that we’d
rather not go to. So maybe we just haven’t noticed the shift going on because
it can be as subtle as a soft yellow paint instead of a jolting white, wall
murals depicting outdoor scenes in a waiting room, or elevator wraps with
cheerful seasonal messages.
Most
healthcare providers know they realistically can’t obtain a pricy art
collection to raise the aesthetic beauty of their facility, but may not know
where to start to bring in some color. SpeedPro Imaging, a large format print
studio, has worked on-site at hospitals to develop those “positive
distractions” for their waiting and patient rooms, as well welcoming outdoor
banners and wraps for elevators. Creating interesting graphics is what we do.
Sources:
1 International Network for
Neuroaesthetics, Published July 17, 2012 Written by Meika Jensen
