The hospital room of 2001 will resemble that of 1901 about as much as e-mail resembles the early telegraph. And patient and family comfort have become the central concern for the hospital design of the future.
Market forces are one inspiration for the changes in hospital design.
Increasing emphasis on outpatient care means hospitals need to compete more and more to attract inpatients. Studies and surveys also contribute to trends in hospital design. A study at New York University Hospital found that patients recover more rapidly when family members stay with them. A survey done by The Center for Health Design of Walnut Creek, Calif., and The Picker Institute in Boston showed that the environment makes a difference to patients when choosing a hospital. Peaceful places Planners looked carefully at all these factors when designing Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, a 492-bed facility that opened May 1.