Healthcare Design - May 2018 - 53

The

Center

BUILDING BRIDGES

It's critical that we share industry expertise with
those working in remote, underserved areas
By Debra Levin

T

HE CENTER for Health Design recently hosted a webinar on a topic that we don't cover nearly as often as we
should: designing for rural healthcare settings. Based
on the large attendance we saw for the live event and
continued on-demand views it's still receiving, this
industry agrees.
The webinar focuses on a unique, exploratory approach to applying evidence-based design (EBD)
principles to rural healthcare settings. The speaker, Chris Haddox, an assistant professor of sustainable design at West Virginia University, was
awarded a grant to develop a partnership with health design colleagues
at Texas Tech University to examine how the delivery of healthcare in his
rural native West Virginia might be improved by using an EBD process in
designing and remodeling local healthcare facilities and if it could positively impact patient
RURAL FACILITIES WERE
engagement. He conducted a research project
UNAWARE THAT DESIGN
that examined the barriers of providing care in
these settings and, through that process, engaged
COULD IMPACT PATIENT
stakeholders to help gather data and bring the
OUTCOMES AND STAFF
project to life.
TURNOVER.
Haddox is not an architect or engineer, but he
grew up in a healthcare family and was familiar
with the challenges in providing healthcare in West Virginia and similar
rural areas. He started his work asking three questions of healthcare systems and design professionals in his area: (1) Who is researching EBD in
rural locations? (2) Can EBD influence health outcomes in these settings?
(3) What are the barriers to promoting EBD in these settings?

These questions led Haddox to design a qualitative study and publish a paper in the Health
Environments Research & Design (HERD) Journal on the "Impact of Design on Patient Participation in Healthcare in a Rural Health Clinic in
Appalachia: A Qualitative Pilot Study."
His research found that rural facilities were
largely unaware that building design could impact patient outcomes and staff turnover and,
as such, leaders weren't seeking EBD interventions. The study also found that many firms with
significant healthcare design expertise weren't
looking to small rural projects for additional
work, further limiting the probability of new
ideas and proven design interventions being introduced in rural facilities.
In one case (that's likely indicative of many), a
small clinic project was being designed and built
by the local contractor, who had no exposure to
the latest developments in healthcare design or
EBD practices.
Haddox is continuing to look for funding to
build out his research, including looking at issues around ADA accessibility and facilityrelated barriers to healthcare for people on the
autism spectrum.
But larger questions for our industry remain:
How do we build bridges to these rural areas and
provide expertise at critical times, when money
is being spent to build and remodel current
healthcare buildings? How do we expose those
who design, build, and operate rural healthcare
facilities to EBD principles and make sure they
know about the tools and resources available to
support them?
This industry has a wealth of knowledge and a
willingness to share ideas and solutions to help
the greater good, but it's time to expand the conversation. At The Center, we plan to work with
Haddox to help find the answers. 
Debra Levin is president and CEO of The Center for
Health Design. She can be reached at D L E V I N @
H E A LT H D E S I G N . O R G .

MAY 2018

53
Healthcare Design - May 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - May 2018
