- Chester Bartels
Patients Reap the Rewards of 'Healing Architecture'

I know a hospital administrator who would repeatedly remind his employees, "We're selling a service no one wants." It was his way of reinforcing the importance of making every patient visit as comfortable as possible. Because — let's face it — no one wants to go do the doctor. Ever.
Doctor visits (and, even worse, hospital stays) are inherently stressful — invasive tests and procedures, the discomfort of an illness, the worry about the bill. And stress is a destructive force. Even as we're visiting the doctor to get better, our body is working against itself has it wrestles with anxiety and fear.
However, health care providers are learning more about how to enhance the power of the environment that surrounds the patient to better their experience. By working with forward-thinking architecture and design firms, these hospitals and clinics are creating physical sanctuaries that promote healing and reduce stress — giving treatments a much better chance to work.
Let the Light Shine In