Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) is updating the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities and is accepting public proposals with recommended updates for the 2014 edition. Considered to be the widely accepted standard for healthcare design, 42 states use the Guidelines as a reference for developing their own hospital standards, reviewing hospital plans, or licensing newly constructed facilities.
The Center for Health Design’s Environmental Standards Council and Residential Care Workgroup are submitting four proposals to FGI. Funding support for this work has come from the Hulda B. & Maurice L. Rothschild Foundation.
Using credible research to put together the proposals, CHD has identified areas of improvement for the Guidelines: increasing patient and staff access to nature, increasing patient control over their room’s environment, clarity of directional hospital signs, and the importance of carefully selecting surfaces and furnishings. For long-term residential care, the Residential Care Workgroup has focused on creating an evaluation framework for evaluating key design areas, such as noise and light levels, that impact resident safety and quality of life.
Proposals can be submitted until October 31st. To learn more, visit the FGI Guidelines website, www.fgiguidelines.org.