title: Being Wheeled or Walking: A Qualitative Study of Patients' Spatial Experience in Two Distinct Day Surgery Centers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this article, we explore what a different way of moving-being wheeled versus walking-means for the spatial experience of day surgery patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Day surgery centers can be conceived in very different manners. Some are organized similar to traditional hospital admittance; others are located in a specifically designed part of the hospital and receive patients as guests who walk through the entire procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted semistructured interviews with 37 patients at two distinct day surgery centers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Despite the different managerial concepts and corresponding spatial designs, in both centers, patients' spatial experience is shaped by the interrelation of material, social, and time-related aspects. However, the chosen concept results in a different experience throughout patients' journey.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on an analysis of the different journeys, we conclude that patients' interpretation of a hospital's care vision is influenced not only by what the hospital communicates explicitly or how it educates its staff but also by what is implicitly told by the built environment.
authors.affiliation: Research Design, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium margo.annemans@asro.kuleuven.be.
authors.forename: Margo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Annemans
authors.affiliation: OSAR Architects NV, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: Chantal Van
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Audenhove
authors.affiliation: Centre for Care Research and Consultancy, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vermolen
authors.affiliation: Research Design, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Engineering Science, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heylighen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000379:methods*; D016138:Walking; D014910:Wheelchairs
keywords: academic research; ambulatory care centers; environment design; hospital; patient-centered care; practice research; qualitative research; surgical centers