Dr. Celeste Alvaro, a research and evaluation consultant and her team at CARE Consulting, is conducting a study that is focused on assessing the impact of the new Providence Care Hospital design on well-being and health related outcomes.
The design features of the new hospital will change the routine for outpatients, for example there will be a new registration area and therapy spaces. The new lobby and outdoor spaces are just two examples of how the visitor experience will change. The will also be variety of social areas and vistas that can be enjoyed by both outpatients and visitors.
In order to properly understand how people will respond to the new facility we will need to study the existing ones at St. Mary's of the Lake and Mental Health Services and then compare them.
What is the goal of this research?
The study will fill a major gap in hospital design research. Until now, hospitals have largely been designed based on theories and functional programming needs. This study will explore and assess what the link is between design and well-being outcomes, for all groups who use the hospital. The information gathered from this study will enhance and influence future hospital designs.
Why does this matter for outpatients and visitors?
We are all affected by our surroundings. We don't need to be in a space for an extended period of time to be affected by it. The built environment or the spaces that we are in has an impact on how we feel, how we interact with others and it influences what we do.
Advances in modern medicine has made it easier for patients to receive care in a hospital while enjoying the comforts of home. It is expected that this trend will continue with hospitals of the future placing an even greater emphasis on outpatient services.
Hospitals play an important role in building a sense of community. It isn't just a place of wellness and healing. For visitors we would like to better understand how the design of the hospital impacts your visit. How do you feel when you visit, where do you go when you visit and what do you do in those spaces? These are some of the topics that we would like to learn more about.
How can I complete the survey?
You can take the survey from home, simply visit
www.providencecare.ca/poe to access the online survey. It is easy to follow, anonymous, and you should be able to complete it in approximately 45 minutes. Most importantly it will be fun.
When is the research being done?
You can visit
www.providencecare.ca/poe anytime between August 1, 2016 and October 31, 2016 to complete the survey.
