The Role of the Physical Environment in the Hospitals in In developed countries

A visit to a U.S. hospital is dangerous and stressful for patients, families and staff members. Medical errors and hospital-acquired infections are among the leading cau of death in the United States, each killing more Americans than AIDS, breast cancer, automobile accidents (Institute of Medicine, 2000; 2001). According to the Institute Medicine in its landmark Quality Chasm report: The frustration levels of both patie and clinicians have probably never been higher. Yet the problems remain. Health ca today harms too frequently and routinely fails to deliver its potential benefits (IOM,2001). Problems with U.S. health care not only influence patients; they impact staff. Registered nurses have a turnover rate averaging 20 percent (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 2002).

Keywords:

hospital , physical environment