The following are select articles from the September/October issue
Don't Wait on Waiting Room Upgrades
By Dennis L. Kaiser
Hospital administrators should make a periodic effort to visit the waiting rooms in their facilities. In contrast to the nice one inside the front door, which has been spruced up to make a good first impression, the waiting areas outside the imaging suites, emergency room, outpatient surgery area and all other departments are likely to be square rooms with off-white walls, no windows, 2-by-4 fluorescent ceiling lighting fixtures, and faded tile floors with mismatched, uncomfortable chairs lining the walls forcing everyone to look at each other.
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High-tech, High-touch Healing
By Kim Bruffy and Pam DiSalvo Lepley
VCUHS Critical Care Bed Tower launches a new era of treating seriously-ill and critically injured patients
Every medical construction project has at its core the desire to make better spaces for patients. On some projects, however, that goal takes on even greater importance, leading to projects that break new ground in patient care.
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Lighting and Controls
By Lauren MacLeod & Tod Moore
Trends for Health and Healing
Healthcare facilities such as hospitals and long-term care facilities are increasingly leaning toward providing greater controllability of the patient and caregiver environment. Integrated control systems provide flexibility as well as user friendly devices that help to reinforce personal comfort and well-being. Nationwide energy codes are dictating mandatory controls to reduce electrical and mechanical loads in some space types.
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September/October 2009
