Exploring Patient Centered Care Through the Design of Personal Storage for Patients

Abstract

<p>An unexpected stay in the hospital can be a traumatic and stressful experience. In addition to the pain and discomfort endured as a result of injury or illness, patients often experience increased stress associated with the healthcare facility itself such as “ delirium, elevated blood pressure, increased need for pain medication and longer hospital stays following surgery” (Ulrich, 1992, p. 20). This stress is counterproductive for both the patient and hospital staff and may be preventable because patient centered design has been shown to counteract negative patient reactions related to the hospital stay (Devlin & Arneill, 2003; Ulrich, 1992).</p>