The connection between a healthy building environment and patient health is often missed by physicians, according to a report by McGraw Hill Construction sponsored by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and others.

“It’s becoming clear from this initial research that doctors and other health professionals must engage with architects and the design community in a major way if we are to be successful in improving public health through design,” said AIA CEO Robert Ivy, in an article on the Medical Construction & Design website.

The study suggests that getting more information to physicians is essential to help create demand for more healthy building design and construction, given the limited understanding that they demonstrate of building health impacts, the article said.

Physician recommendation of more fundamental healthy building design and construction practices that connect with the health risks of most concern to public health could help create the market demand needed to drive investment, according to the report.

Read the article.