Anne Marie Philbrook, principal and lead designer of Philbrook Healthcare Design, advocates "patient-centered design" in an article appearing on Hospitalinfrabiz.com.
Administrators, she notes, are typically concerned with upfront project costs. Operations professionals are looking for streamlined processes to better manage cost. And healthcare providers are —hopefully — concerned with functional workspaces.
But what about the most important design arbitrator, according to Philbrook — the patient?
Philbrook suggests design teams can provide more creative, patient friendly environments if they have a "patient-experience specialist" on staff looking out for the patients' interests.
She cites the American Institute of Patient-Centered Design which advocates "a truly healing environment" that empowers the patient, in addition to respecting patient privacy, and providing accessible accommodations and spaces that facilitate healing.