The Big Picture: How Artwork Positively Impacts the Healthcare Environment
In 1857, Florence Nightingale’s Environmental Theory defined nursing as “the act of utilizing the patient’s environment to assist him in his recovery.” Since that time, every part of the healthcare environment has been analyzed to help improve patient care, including architecture, interiors, furniture, landscape — and artwork. Nightingale’s theory has been proven through extensive research resulting in studies, white papers and books, and evidence produced from these studies culminated in what the industry refers to now as Evidence-Based Design (EBD).
A healthcare art consultant practicing EBD brings a higher level of accuracy and scientific rigor to make informed choices based on data and research. Their education has been formalized into a program known as Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification or EDAC. Collaborating with other professional services and staff, EDAC certified healthcare art consultants strategically shape positive environments and can promote meaningful and improved healthcare outcomes.
Through meticulous selection, art consultants develop collections that can heal, encourage, uplift, calm and inspire. A positive patient, family, staff and visitor experience helps to reduce stress on healthcare leadership and pragmatically affects the hospital’s bottom line. A few of the many research outcomes related to the impact artwork has in the healthcare environment include:
- Artwork focused on nature or familiar landmarks reduces stress and improves patient outcomes such as a decreased need for pain medication and length of stay.
- Artwork that elicits a response, begins a conversation and makes a connection can provide positive distraction or an escape from current stressors.
- Artwork can provide a needed focal point to alleviate the overload of sensory information one can feel in a healthcare setting (such as lighting, temperature, smells, sounds and pain).
- Artwork can positively impact staff behavior, which in turn can affect those for whom they are caring.
Photography: Alise O’Brien
Why choose a professional?
Designing a healthcare environment requires professionals — including architects, designers, equipment planners, engineers, contractors, artwork planners and more — to work alongside the healthcare design and construction team. These consultants must collaborate early in the process to ensure that the client’s environmental goals are met and that Evidence-Based Design principles are achieved.
A professional art consultant utilizes powerful visual strategies to enhance space. This includes the process of articulating a client’s goals, values and vision through a variety of concepts and media. A consultant works holistically with the team to ensure their art package supports the design of a space and incorporates brand standards. This synergistic relationship helps to meet the following goals:
- Timeline
- Budget
- Mission
- Wayfinding
- Demographics
- Engineering considerations
- Installation and preservation
In addition to these goals, a professional art consultant plans for patient experience zones. Depending on where or why an individual is in a healthcare environment, the acuity demographics vary. The art package should align with the distinct needs of patients, visitors and staff to alleviate inherent stressors.
Photography: Alise O’Brien
Why bring in an art consultant early?
Carefully constructed hospital art programs adhere to specific best practices, which can be formally developed and facilitated by seasoned art consultants early in the design process. A first step in establishing an art program — which is also the first step in the EBD process — requires an initial visioning process with key players to ensure adherence to (and integration of) the vision statement throughout all phases of the project from conceptualization to visualization to realization. To save time and money, early coordination with the following key team members should be considered:
- Client: Vision, budget (where are funds coming from and how much is allocated), timeline, etc.
- Architect: Additional backing in wall support for heavy art and integrated structural needs
- Electrical engineers: Power sources for artwork and donor signage, focal lighting and placement of hanging light fixtures
- Mechanical engineers: Location of fire pulls and direction of air movement to work with hanging art installations
- General contractor: Resourceful delivery and installation
Early planning is essential in ensuring cohesive healthcare environments and positive patient experiences. Additionally, the early involvement of art consultants in the schematic and design development phases aids in further refinement of the project's vision and overall scope. It may also present invaluable opportunities for cost-sharing across disciplines and avoiding costly revisions later in the building process.
Photography: Alise O’Brien