Cure vs. Heal

Abstract

This thesis is an exploration on the contemporary design philosophies of Healthcare facilities and their shortcomings. Most Americans can readily conjure images of the stereotype of a typical hospital environment: sterile, unfeeling spaces built for efficiency in technical care delivery without significant thought given to comfort and psychological well-being of the patient. And in many ways, this design approach is a “necessary evil”. After all, the ability for physicians, nurses, and other staff to deliver comprehensive care is a crucial component to the overall delivery system. This should not imply that care is not meant to extend to emotional and psychological well-being, however. The traditional issue is that if hospitality impedes on care delivery, there is no longer a balanced return on investment. What needs to be recognized however is that technical care and the patient-centered approach are not isolated, but are both inter-related components of the larger care delivery system. Where hospitality was once seen as a superfluous amenity, it is now understood that these alternative delivery methods have tangible, measurable results that can have a profound impact on patient recovery. The critical issue at hand is two-fold: how to apply the broader term ‘hospitality’ in a means that does not obstruct physician and staff applications, and what means of design approaches are appropriate in order to accomplish the goal of patient psychological well-being. While a harsh and unforgiving environment can hinder a patient who is already emotionally-compromised, a condescending environment which panders to psychological stereotypes may have no effect other than to waste resources which may have been better spent elsewhere. This project aims to activate a dormant system through which speciality and hospitality are not at odds with one another, but rather connect to provide the most efficient and well-balanced approach to care delivery.