Planterra

Hospitals bring the outdoors inside for better healing

Patients with a view of nature typically require less pain medication, have fewer complications and heal faster, studies have shown

By Healthcare Facilities Today


Indoor healing or therapeutic gardens are now blooming in healthcare settings across the country, according to an article on the Healthcare Construction + Operations website. 

Many healthcare providers are now dedicating interiors to living oases — and are seeing the benefits.

Roger Ulrich, an environmental psychologist at Texas A&M University, found that patients who enjoyed a view of nature typically required less pain medication, experienced fewer complications and healed a full day faster than their counterparts who faced brick walls, the article said.

These living green spaces can be integrated into nearly any hospital or clinical setting, according to the article. Many facilities concentrate healing gardens in atriums or entryways; however seating areas, collaborative spaces and corridors can also serve as venues for containerized installations. 

Living installations are also a safe option for sterile environments. Interior garden designers often use a sub-irrigation system and sterilized growing media as opposed to traditional soil, the article said. This prevents water from being exposed to air. Meanwhile, the plants add to the overall air quality of the space by creating new oxygen rather than simply filtering it.

Read the article.

 

 



March 21, 2014


Topic Area: Interior Design


Recent Posts

Cooling Towers at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln Test Positive for Legionella

Hospital among the positive tests at 10 cooling towers in South Bronx.


Prefabricated Wall Panels Accelerate UCF Lake Nona Medical Center Construction

Case study: StoPanel exterior wall systems helped Wal-Mark Contracting meet strict Florida wind-load requirements and complete 136 panels in just 11 days.


University of Rhode Island Adds Clinical Space

Space dedicated to training students in counseling-related programs doubles in size.


How Retail Design Principles Can Improve Healthcare Wayfinding

Healthcare facilities are adopting retail-inspired design strategies to make spaces easier to navigate and more comfortable for patients.


Flexible Design Strategies Help OhioHealth Maximize Clinical Space

Doing more with less was key to the renovated facility’s design.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.