A Movement at Stanford.

Have you ever looked into the night sky and wondered what else is out there? With an infinite outer space, I do not believe we are the only living creatures in the universe. There has to be many other forms of life that exist beyond our diameter of exploration.

With this philosophy in mind, I thought about my reconstruction plan and wondered if there isn't a group out there that is taking similar strides. I know I am not the only person who feels depressed and pessimistic upon entering a hospital. Therefore, I did some research and found that the Stanford Medical Center is building almost an exact replica of what I imagine.

Between the years of 2015-16, Stanford's new hospital will contain a one million square foot interventional services center and an enlarged emergency department with 600 beds. Additionally, each room, including intensive care, will have an extra bed for a family member to sleep in over night. The patient will be able to regulate sunlight with individual shade controls, as well as watch movies, view x-rays, and order meals on flat-screened TVs.

Adults are living longer than ever before, but with more complex needs. Rita Ghatak, PhD, Director of Aging Adult Services at Stanford Medical Center, believes that their hospital needs to transform in order to accommodate an aging population. After sitting with many focus groups, she has concluded that the hospital environment need improvement in the following: lighting, sound, distances, doorways, waiting areas, room layouts and signage.

Betsy Brawley, president of Design Concepts Unlimited, and a specialist in designing interior environments for aging adults, also commented on how to improve hospital environments. She says that lighting design and paint colors could improve the safety and well-being of senior citizens. Her other suggestions included showers with a threshold, electronic dimmers, bathrooms with sliding doors, lighting over the toilet and garbage can, and fold-down grab bars.

George Tingwald, Director of Medical Planning for the hospital renewal project, compared Stanford's current medical clinic to a geriatric patient. It is very old and its resources and design are inefficient. Tingwald verifies his argument by saying, "we now have evidence that the environment has huge impact on patient outcomes."

It is a wonderful feeling when the passion I have felt for so long is shared with professionals. This verifies that my plan is accurate and encourages me to move forward.