title: We shape our buildings, then they kill us: why health-care buildings contribute to the error pandemic.
abstract: Hospitals are complex. The physical environment in which that complexity exists has a significant impact on health and safety. However, enhancing patient safety or improving quality has not been integrated into aspects of the design of hospital buildings. Despite recent discussions regarding design of 'patient-centered' healthcare facilities and 'evidence-based design', there has been little assessment of the impact of the built environment on patient outcomes. This paper will present a few examples of how changes in design can improve the quality of care.
authors.affiliation: Utrecht University, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ken N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Dickerman
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barach
authors.forename: Ray
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pentecost
mesh_terms: D006272:Health Facility Environment; D049669:History, 16th Century; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D049690:History, Ancient; D049691:History, Medieval; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*