Survey of Design Research in Healthcare Settings; The Use and Impact of Evidence-based Design

While the field of evidence-based design (EBD) field has grown significantly over the last few years, we do not know how much of this knowledge and increased awareness is being translated into the design of new healthcare facilities. How many healthcare projects use an EBD process? Are those planning and designing these facilities coming up with innovative design solutions to address key safety and quality issues in healthcare settings? Are they measuring the impacts of these changes? Is EBD really making a difference?

Working with Herman Miller Healthcare as a corporate partner, the Center for Health Design has completed the first Survey of Design Research in Healthcare Settings. With participation from a diverse group of stakeholders involved in the healthcare design process, the results provide insight into many questions surrounding the use of research in healthcare design and will set a benchmark for future analysis of industry trends. To measure these trends, the survey questions were structured around general categories including: Awareness (design research and • evidence-based design);
Information Sources (design • strategies, healthcare design trends); Acceptance (definition, personal • and industry opinions); and Applications of EBD Features • (use of specific design features and interventions.