Publisher: The Coalition for Health Environments Research (CHER)
File Size: 5.9MB

Executive Summary:

This research project explores the implications of single family room care in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). The settings for this investigation included both private and open units and allowed for a comparison regarding (1) neonatal outcomes; (2) family needs and preferences; (3) staff behavior, needs, and preferences; and (4) construction and operational costs. The findings are translated into design guidelines. This study is an initial, comprehensive effort, the purpose of which is to spawn future, narrower, in-depth studies focused on neonatal intensive care unit design.

A recent trend in the design of neonatal intensive care facilities has been to increase the number of private patient rooms for neonates and their families. Several factors have contributed to the popularity of single family rooms: (1) data on the positive impact of developmentally-appropriate care on infant outcomes (Als, et al., 1994); (2) increased understanding of the value of breastfeeding and kangaroo care (Ferber & Makhoul, 2004); (3) the hospital-wide trend toward private rooms; and (4) the success of innovative prototypes. The implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has also influenced the design of NICUs due to the need to provide patient privacy (Mathur, 2004).

Infants are affected both directly by their environment and indirectly by their caregivers, who are also influenced by the environment. A broad range of outcome measures must be incorporated, including patient outcomes, construction costs, and the impact on staff and families. Research addressing the physical and psychosocial benefits and costs to families, neonates, and medical staff; and the monetary and organizational implications regarding construction and hospital systems is needed to provide the tools for planning new NICUs. These results, in turn, must be translated into design guidelines to make them accessible to practitioners.