The Facility Guidelines Institute [FGI] recently published a white paper on common mistakes made when designing psychiatric hospitals. While the report points out there is no one-size fits all solution, it discusses common design errors from the perspectives of a therapeutic environment, patient and staff safety concerns, programming, general layout, and general level of precautions.
The authors of the report have also written Design Guide for the Built Environment of Behavioral Health Facilities, formerly published by the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems, but now being published by FGI.
FGI coordinates the ongoing consensus process for updating and revising the Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Healthcare Facilities, used by “The Joint Commission, many federal agencies, and authorities in 42 states … either as a code or a reference standard when reviewing, approving, and financing plans; surveying, licensing, certifying, or accrediting newly constructed facilities; or developing their own codes.“
Source: Hunt J. and Sine DM. Common mistakes in designing psychiatric hospitals: an update. Facility Guidelines Institute, May 2015. http://fgiguidelines.org/pdfs/FGI_CommonMistakesPsychiatricHospitals_1505.pdf
Posted by AHA Resource Center (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org
Filed under: Best practices, Design, Hospitals, Mental health services, Posted by Diana Culbertson | Tagged: behaviorial health design, psychiatric hospital design |
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