Anyone who is familiar with Ulrich’s work in the 1980’s won’t be surprised by a study presented at the 2022 Scientific Forum of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Clinical Congress. Researchers associated with the University of Michigan found via analyzing data from nearly 4,000 patients at one hospital who had undergone high-risk surgical procedures that patient “Room features that influenced clinical outcomes after surgery included distance from a nursing station, single room occupancy, and having a direct line of sight where clinicians can see into the room. After adjusting for patient comorbidities and complexity of the operation, mortality rates were 20% higher . . . if patients were admitted to a hospital room without a window than if they were put in a room with a window. For patients staying in a room without a window, 30-day mortality rates were 10% higher. . . . When the authors looked at different rooms based on the favorable design features, it became clear that the sicker patients were more likely to get single rooms, closer to a nursing station and within direct line of sight, and a window view.”
“Hospital Room Features May Impact Clinical Outcomes for Patients After Surgery.” 2022. Press release, American College of Surgeons, https://www.facs.org/for-medical-professionals/news-publications/news-a…