Can Good Design Lead to Better Health Care?

At Banner Estrella Medical Center, the natural light, the garden off the chapel, the serene pools of water are supposed to help healing—or at least soothe the tattered spirits of the sick and their families. The center may seem like it's designed for luxury; but some amenities also reduce the length of hospital stays. For example, the hospital's key element of privacy means all 172 beds are in single rooms. "Studies show that private rooms mean shorter hospital stays because they are quieter and there's less chance of spreading infection. They're likely to become a new standard; single-room design is a key recommendation in guidelines for health-care facilities recently issued by the American Institute of Architects." Room furnishings include a couch that unfolds into a bed, in case a family member wants to spend the night. "Our rooms allow families to get involved in the patient's care," says nurse Becky Jensen.

Good design also reduces the need for shuttling patients to and from tests; a patient on a gurney doesn't have to be wheeled through public areas. "Imaging, surgery and intervention radiology are in one location, with one waiting room," says Medical Center partner Richard Dallam.