Past Projects
Hospital Settings
1 in 20 admitted hospital patients develop hospital acquired infections (HAIs). Using prototyping and simulation in combination with qualitative contextual inquiry and thematic analysis, our study found that when hand sanitizing stations are more accessible and visible, use of the stations increases. This has the potential to increase the effectiveness of hand hygiene interventions and reduce rates of deadly HAIs.
Research suggests that Evidence Based Design (EBD), integrating scientific knowledge to support facility design and operation, may contribute to the success of healthcare organizations by improving safety, quality of care, and treatment efficiency. Using engineering economy tools to model the returns on investment in six successful cases of EBD interventions in hospitals, we found reductions in hospital-acquired infections, patient and staff injuries, and patient anxiety. This suggests that EBD interventions may optimize healthcare facility infrastructures to provide organizations with lifetime cost savings and improvements in patient care.
Recent research suggests that internal environments with windows and lighting that mimics natural light enhance mood, alertness, and performance. In this study, we used quasi-experimental methods to compare two similar acute-nursing wards with different window availability. We observed positive physiological and psychological outcomes in the nursing unit with more windows, suggesting that the benefits of windows and natural light extend to hospital environments.
Palliative Care Settings
People with advanced serious illness often face difficulties with sleep fragmentation. We conducted a systematic literature review across six databases regarding outcomes of non-pharmacological interventions to improve sleep among patients with serious illness. Though the studies we evaluated demonstrated the potential of non-pharmacological interventions to improve sleep, our findings were inconsistent and future research is necessary.
Residents of long-term care facilities experience frequent disturbances in sleep and circadian rhythms. We conducted a systematic review of quasi-experimental studies assessing non-pharmacological interventions to improve sleep amongst this vulnerable population. Our findings reveal three successful interventions suggesting that non-pharmacological interventions have the potential to improve quality of sleep amongst long term care facility residents.
End-of-Life Care Settings
There is a significant research gap regarding practice-based recommendations to reduce sleep and circadian rhythm disruptions, posing significant issues for terminally ill patients especially. Throughout our cross-sectional focus group amongst staff members from four end-of-life care facilities in New York, caregivers cited that improvements in sleep monitoring systems and sleep education programs for caregivers may improve the sleep of terminally ill patients.
Past research supports that the physical environment in which end-of-life (EOL) care is delivered affects the health of patients and their families and caretakers. We conducted an integrated literature review across health and design disciplines and identified 5 key environmental design features that enhance the well-being of all people involved in EOL care. Design interventions across these five dimensions of social interaction, positive distraction, privacy, personalization, and homeyness stand to enhance patient experience in EOL care.
Workplace Settings
Previous research has shown that sleepiness negatively impacts work performance, health, and safety across different industries. We employed qualitative and quantitative methods of cross-sectional analysis to evaluate data from a representative sample of workers in New York State and identified key workplace characteristics that may help reduce sleepiness, improve health, and increase productivity through future EBD interventions.