What is Happening in Healthcare Settings Today?

Most of the hospitals and clinics built in the 20th century were not designed for the healing of patients and comfort of family. Consider, for example, how the focus of many hospital rooms is the somewhat frightening medical equipment, while the halls throughout are painted in practical, but depressing hospital green with noisy, but easy-to-clean linoleum floors. Some people have even compared these settings to prison: an institutional environment with few concessions to aesthetics, where furthermore, personal clothes and effects are taken away and the inmate/patient has few choices about what happens. It is often a dehumanizing environment that runs counter to healing. However, this is beginning to change as healthcare moves towards a more patient-centered and holistic model.