Healing exterior spaces are moving from options to necessities as health systems compete for patients, staff and community good will.
Current studies show that carefully planned gardens, walkways, patios, roof terraces, courtyards and interiors can have a positive effect on a wide variety of users. Conversely, efficient but starkly institutional surroundings can cause stress and are not well-suited to the needs of patients or staff.
...To develop the planning process, Samaritan engaged Macdonald Environmental Planning (MEP), Portland, Ore. Together, Samaritan and MEP developed a process that would define healing environment types and components, involve the various stakeholders at each site, evaluate existing facilities and provide an action plan and budget to implement planning and design.
A particularly attractive aspect of the strategy was that it would help Samaritan prioritize the projects so that it could accomplish them over a period of years, as funding became available. The result was dubbed the 'Samaritan Health Services Healing Environments Master Plan.' "
Thanks to ArchNewsNow
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