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The complexities of healthcare have come into sharp focus in recent years, revealing a renewed appreciation of environments that are flexible, adaptable, and resilient when facing new challenges. But the urgency of the moment has also created added stress, for those in need of care — and especially for those providing it, whose work now carries even greater risks.
Here are four ways to promote a less stressful healthcare setting, one that puts patients at ease and helps practitioners stay focused and less stressed.
For many caregivers, serving patients is more than a career. It’s a calling. But dedication alone isn’t enough to prevent burnout. A survey of more than 50,000 nurses nationwide found that among the nearly 10% who left their previous employers, almost a third cited the convergence of frustration and exhaustion.
“A prolonged state of stress leads to distress, which can then become burnout,” notes Ashley Neuman, a clinical counselor at Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Enterprise. “Nurses need to take care of themselves first before they can take care of patients.”
So encouraging wellness at work is an increasing priority to healthcare providers of all types. In fact, some organizations are creating a new role to manage it: chief wellness officer, or CWO. “Well-being as a topic is absolutely gaining momentum,” HR leadership coach Chris Rollins told Human Resource Executive. “The trend [of chief wellness officers] is certainly bubbling up.” The American Medical Association says the concept of CWO “helps to convey that well-being is of equal importance to that of quality, informatics and data in the sustainability and success of the organization.”
There are several strategies for reducing occupational stress, from mindfulness exercises to more formal support services. But underlying fatigue and distraction also have ergonomic solutions, like HON’s diverse selection of task chairs. HON’s Ignition® 2.0, Solve®, and Volt® seating options support proper posture and muscle and joint relief for those who spend a lot of time on their feet. “A soft space for staff to relax during breaks is so important,” says Jamos Mitchell, Product Marketing Manager for Collaborative Seating at HON. “Soft seating with durable, cleanable healthcare-grade vinyls like these are perfect for breakrooms and wellness spaces.”
Abound® and Voi® workstations can also help by offering both barriers and boundaries needed to maintain focus. Better organization can also lower anxiety—less clutter and more security is always beneficial. The Contain® line of cubby lockers and wardrobes can be configured with keypad or RFID electronic locks; no keys means one less thing to worry about.
You might be surprised to learn that up to 70% of the average outpatient visit is actually spent waiting. A study designed to improve overall healthcare experiences found the time we spend between checking in and seeing a practitioner is also the most anxious for patients.
There’s a delicate balance to reducing reception area stress because “comfortable” and “clinical” can seem like inherent opposites. Surroundings should be soothing, but also easy to keep clean. They should be relaxing, but not boring either.
That’s why supporting patients through thoughtful furnishings is essential. HON’s Soothe® guest and tandem chairs and benches provide patients and family members with comfortable seating in a variety of colors, fabrics, and textures for any healthcare environment, including areas for registration, waiting, or consultation. Our Accommodate® seating offers bariatric options with more structure and space for those who need it. HON creates seating for everyone. Another option is the Versant® line of chairs and benches designed specifically for waiting areas that see intensive, multi-shift use.
Healthcare relationships are evolving, and so are the spaces where they take place. Exam rooms are appropriate settings for discussions and some procedures, but they can also add anxiety to the patient experience. Sincere conversations in a less clinical setting can make a measurable difference, for current patients and prospective ones.
Up to 80% of patients reference online reviews before scheduling with a new healthcare provider, and nearly 40% will switch practices if they are unsatisfied with their current provider. Among the most frequently cited reasons—the doctor-patient relationship.
Consultation spaces invite a more casual and compassionate approach. Patients feel more empowered and informed in their care decisions, and physicians likewise benefit from a more collaborative environment shared by colleagues. HON’s Ignition line of sled-base and four-leg guest chairs put patients at greater ease, while Concinnity™ desks and Contain® credenzas offer clean, contemporary workspaces.
Reception isn’t the only waiting area in a hospital or healthcare campus. Once loved ones are checked in, it’s the role of informal spaces to provide comfort or contemplation for those who may be just as anxious as the patients themselves.
Whether it’s a quiet alcove, small café, or full-service cafeteria, these common areas create a crucial space for celebrating a positive prognosis, or consoling those facing a more dire one. In fact, when patients were asked what makes a healthcare setting “patient-friendly,” environments where their family and friends are likely to visit longer and more often was a revelation in forward-thinking facilities design.
Communal areas that feel more welcoming and less clinical also offer patients the social and emotional support that can only come from more frequent interactions during their stay. HON’s flexible line of Flock® casual guest and modular chairs, stools, and collaborative cubes—interspersed with Between™ high-top and low-top tables—help make hospital visits seem more like a hotel stay.
“Designing furnishings for demanding industries has always been a part of our company history. But healthcare settings come with specific and diverse needs,” explains, Jamos Mitchell. “Creating solutions that support patients and practitioners, and that treat visitors as guests, is how HON brings more hospitality to hospital environments.”
To review HON’s complete line of healthcare products, please view this handy healthcare solution guide.
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