PMC, as one of the first members of the Center for Health Design's Pebble Project, is helping to produce a ripple effect in the healthcare community by providing researched and documented examples of projects that have created life-enhancing environments for patients, families and staff.

Evidence and research compiled by the Pebble Project is being used to demonstrate that a hospital's design has a direct bearing on patient satisfaction, well-being and outcome.

When planning the new medical center, Parrish Medical Center incorporated each of the seven elements of a healing environment as recommended by the Center for Health Design:

• Nature
• Color
• Healthy building
• Healthy lighting
• Physical security
• Wayfinding
• Cultural responsiveness

The value to a health care environment of physical or sensory interaction with nature is evident in its effects both on patients and caregivers. Having access to elements of nature help to distract patients from the challenges of treatment and enhances their sense of well being.

PMC's four-story atrium features planters and fountains that provide light, color, texture and sound – all of which reinforce the natural feel of the space and, at the same time, become healing elements.

The "Circle of Life" theme is repeated throughout the medical center and is intended to imply hope and optimism. The spirit-enriching concept is reinforced with natural light allowed inside through the atrium and abundance of windows throughout the building. The outdoor pavilion features a waterfall and tropical plants, making it a peaceful retreat for staff, patients and visitors.

Complementing access to nature and natural light is color. Research has shown color to effect the physiological, psychological, spiritual, and emotional well being of people.

Each of the colors Parrish Medical Center uses has a healing property. Below are descriptions of the healing properties each color presents to patients.

Evidenced-based research has long linked improved outcomes to the physical environment. Sustainable and therapeutic environments produce healthy, high performance buildings that inspire staff and families and positively affect patient outcomes. Design decisions and material choices made by hospital officials were more expensive and required a leap of faith in the beginning. However, these costs are recouped through savings in operations, maintenance and enhanced staff performance. PMC's dedication to sustainable building design was recognized by the American Society of Healthcare Engineers' Annual Vista Awards.

In addition to traditional aspects of a healthy building such as energy and water demands, site impact and indoor air quality, other aspects of a healthy building include:

• Providing quiet patient areas. PMC has nearly eliminating overhead pages and has done away with the traditional nurse's station. This has resulted in quiet, serene patient areas, and more efficient work environment for staff. A decentralized nursing model was implemented, which places nurses close to their patients.
• Strategically placed alcoves keep hallways clean and clear, reducing the potential for falls and promoting a neat and clean environment.
• Even the floors and door transitions were given special attention to reduce or eliminate bumps for patient comfort and added safety.
• Patient flow received much attention. Related departments such as the emergency department, radiology, intensive care unit, and surgery were designed within feet of each other for improved efficiency and quality.
• A sophisticated elevator system respects patient privacy and improves efficiency.

Respecting patient privacy, safety, comfort and providing a safe, efficient work environment cannot be accomplished without good wayfinding. Good wayfinding creates a clear sense of place. Most hospitals are complex mazes of long hallways, confusing corridors and strange-looking signs. Nothing looks familiar. This adds to an already stressful situation.

PMC's goal is to reduce stress, not create it. To help orient patients and visitors, a prominent circular entrance clearly visible from the road leads and invites people to the medical center's front door. Inside, patients and visitors are welcomed into the lobby/atrium area. One can stand anywhere in the atrium and see exactly where they need to go. All departments and elevators are visible and arranged in a half circle.

A sweeping spiral stair in the four-story atrium serves as a sort of landmark. It further helps to orient visitors. The stair is the center feature of the "Circle of Life" theme found throughout PMC. It has been the focal point for many activities including wedding and holiday photos.

The atrium's seating is grouped in small clusters with a variety of seating types for a more inviting and hospitable setting.

In addition to serving as a landmark, the atrium is a central gathering area. Encouraging people to visit the hospital when they are healthy results in familiarity. Familiarity leads to improved wayfinding. Like the local supermarket people frequent. People know exactly where to find what they are looking for because they visit it often. People don't often think of a hospital that way, but as they community's hospital PMC sought to create an environment that reduced people's anxiety about coming to a hospital by encouraging them to visit when they are healthy.

To accomplish this, PMC offers people opportunities to enjoy the hospital when they are well through celebrations, educational offerings and other activities. For example, year-round, many live weekly music concerts are held in the atrium. People come just to hear these musicians. On occasion, couples have been witnessed dancing in the atrium, others have been seen singing along to a familiar song, or simply listening.

Beautiful works of art, crafted by local artisans, bring another element of healing to public and patient areas. Pieces are hung throughout the facility similar to an art gallery, which invites people to stroll about and look at the artwork.

Several community celebrations are held in the atrium each year. Additionally, during the holidays more than twenty trees, wreathes, and multi-cultural holiday displays adorn the atrium, lobby, entrances, and patient and visitor spaces. PMC has become a holiday destination for people. Many have their holiday family photos taken at the hospital in front of one of its displays. Again, demonstrating how PMC has fostered familiarity and taken the fear out of coming to the hospital.

The element of physical security is important given the world we live in today. Ensuring the safety of our staff and patients is our number one priority. Therefore, in building the new medical center much attention was paid to security systems, how departments were designed to best protect and respect patient privacy. For example, dividing ER treatment areas with walls and glass enclosures instead of curtains. PMC added bio-readers as part of its security system, among other devices. Living in Florida, extreme weather required the medical center to build a structure that can withstand 130 mph winds and build above the 100-year flood plain, as just a few examples of how physical security was addressed.

PMC designed the medical center (a healing environment) consistent with the regional and organizational culture. For example, PMC included design elements in context with its region. Colors, textures, artwork used throughout the center reflect the Space Coast region.

Equally important to healing design is the organizational culture. The physical building must reflect the values, beliefs and philosophy of the people responsible for delivering care. Healing environment plus the organization's culture equals healing experiences and healing experiences for everyone all the time® is our vision.

For more information call 321-268-6110.