Online Education to Improve Palliative Care Professionals' Knowledge of Sleep Management.

Inadequate sleep is a common problem among those receiving palliative care services, yet there is limited knowledge regarding nonpharmacological sleep interventions among staff. An educational online program was developed to address this deficit. This study assessed the extent of knowledge acquired following the online educational sleep program and determined the feasibility of using this intervention with palliative care professionals.

Lean Design of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Patient Room for Efficient and Safe Care Delivery.

Background: The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is an environment where seriously ill children receive complex care, delivered mostly by specialty-trained nurses (registered nurses [RNs]) who must perform multiple high-level tasks. With stressors on healthcare systems at an all-time high, design that optimizes RN workflow has taken on a renewed imperative.

Objectives: To employ a multimodal approach (1) to identify environmental factors in the PICU patient room that contribute to caregiver workflow inefficiencies, (2) to optimize safety by identifying high-touch surfaces that cause hospital-acquired infections, (3) to develop human-centered design recommendations.

Development and palliative care staff reactions to a sleep regulation educational intervention.

Background: In palliative care, sleep and circadian rhythm problems are common symptoms. Nonpharmacological interventions are available; however, health care providers are not aware of these or lack the knowledge to effectively implement in practice. This study reports the content and design development of the PRIME™ (Program for Improving & Managing Environments for Sleep) sleep online educational intervention as well as the evaluation of the intervention by practicing nurses with a focus on perceived acceptability and satisfaction.

Palliative Design Meets Palliative Medicine: A Strategic Approach to the Design, Construction, and Operation of Healthcare Facilities to Improve Quality of Life and Reduce Suffering for Patients, Families, and Caregivers.

A built environment designed to be appropriate for palliative care can make a profound difference for people with life-limiting illnesses. The built environment affects a patient's quality of life, the management of physical and psychological symptoms, and the quality of social interactions with loved ones and caregivers. This article is informed by the emerging trends in the research and practice in the disciplines of architecture, design, medicine, and nursing.

Do cost savings from reductions in nosocomial infections justify additional costs of single-bed rooms in intensive care units? A simulation case study.

Purpose: Evidence shows that single-patient rooms can play an important role in preventing cross-transmission and reducing nosocomial infections in intensive care units (ICUs). This case study investigated whether cost savings from reductions in nosocomial infections justify the additional construction and operation costs of single-bed rooms in ICUs.

Materials And Methods: We conducted deterministic and probabilistic return-on-investment analyses of converting the space occupied by open-bay rooms to single-bed rooms in an exemplary ICU.

Evidence-Based and Value-Based Decision Making About Healthcare Design: An Economic Evaluation of the Safety and Quality Outcomes.

Objective: This study describes a vision and framework that can facilitate the implementation of evidence-based design (EBD), scientific knowledge base into the process of the design, construction, and operation of healthcare facilities and clarify the related safety and quality outcomes for the stakeholders. The proposed framework pairs EBD with value-driven decision making and aims to improve communication among stakeholders by providing a common analytical language.

Background: Recent EBD research indicates that the design and operation of healthcare facilities contribute to an organization's operational success by improving safety, quality, and efficiency.

The impact of windows and daylight on acute-care nurses' physiological, psychological, and behavioral health.

Objective: To investigate the physiological and psychological effects of windows and daylight on registered nurses.

Background: To date, evidence has indicated that appropriate environmental lighting with characteristics similar to natural light can improve mood, alertness, and performance. The restorative effects of windows also have been documented.

Rethinking efficiency in acute care nursing units: analyzing nursing unit layouts for improved spatial flow.

Objective: This paper introduces a new design tool to increase efficiency in acute care settings. This visual tool facilitates matching spatial flow with caregivers' workflow to reduce waste and redundancies, as recommended by Lean thinking. Providing work environments that protect caregivers from fatigue, interruptions, and redundancies can contribute to quality patient care.