Discover Healing Environments Offered by Small Hospitals

Some people think that only the larger hospitals offer the best care. In fact many small hospitals not only offer top healthcare services, they also provide unique healing environments that may eclipse even those found at big hospitals. For example there are small hospitals in the Hudson, WI area that offer attractive and soothing surroundings that are designed to help people feel well. Wherever one chooses a hospital for care, inquiring about the facility’s environment can help people find the most appealing and comfortable healthcare setting.

One of the first elements one can take into account when considering the décor of a hospital is color. Rooms and lobbies that look drab don’t inspire vibrant health. Colors and lines that flow and offer a healing aura can inspire well-being in patients. There is a whole study of color and healing that believes that certain colors relate to health for particular parts of the body. The Chinese believe that red, blue, green, yellow and white can be used to promote health. There are fields of study in color therapy that explore mood and health ramifications of color. Green, pink and blue are soothing colors. Red and yellow are colors that can inspire people with energy. Color is definitely an element that one should notice when gauging a hospital’s healing environment.

Next architecture should be taken into consideration. Rounded archways, spacious rooms and the admittance of maximum amounts of natural light all are believed to promote health. In years past staid looking brick hospitals were not designed with an artistic eye, and their lack of aesthetic appeal did not usually contribute to health. Increasingly hospitals are turning to architects to design buildings that are more like art galleries than the hospitals of old. Floor plans, acoustics, temperature, light and other environmental elements influenced by building design have spawned a whole field of modern architecture study related to healing. In the near future people can expect to see hospitals invest more money in building additions and new facilities that offer health promoting architectural features.

Usually people will weigh a hospital’s healthcare offerings such as cardiology, urology, and emergency room services and not think too much about the hospital’s décor. Increasingly hospitals are offering a specially designed environment to promote healing. People who are looking for a hospital for an upcoming operation or treatment that may require an extended stay are encouraged to review hospitals’ interiors and surrounding grounds. How do the hospitals measure up in regards to color, floor plan, natural light and overall relaxing and healthful atmosphere? While the quality of the medical care is of the utmost importance, one’s surroundings need to be measured as an essential part of the total healthcare package.

Tom Peterson offers his thoughts on healing environments based on his time spent working in a Hudson, WI health center.