Creating a healing environment: the importance of the service setting in the new consumer-oriented healthcare system.
Over the last ten years, the healthcare industry has recognized that the physical environment is a valuable resource that can and does affect all of its customers. Although most service organizations give some thought to setting, its importance to the service experience has been most thoroughly understood by those who view and treat their customers as guests, that is, the guest service industry. An excellent healing environment will reinforce excellent clinical quality, but an inferior environment can detract from fine clinical care. One of the most important principles learned by the guest service industry is to provide the setting customers expect. Another is to create an environment that meets or exceeds customer needs for safety, security, support, competence, physical comfort, and psychological comfort. This article provides a detailed discussion of how such an environment can be created in healthcare facilities drawing from the experience of the best guest service organizations.
Fottler
M D
MD
Health Services Administration Programs, College of Health and Public Affairs, University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA. fottler@pegasus.cc.ucf.edu
Ford
R C
RC
Roberts
V
V
Ford
E W
EW
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004780:Environment, Controlled; D006272:Health Facility Environment; D006694:Holistic Health; D015285:Hospital-Patient Relations; D006801:Humans; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States