Diseases can manifest in many combinations of the mind and body (spiritually, psychologically, physically, etc) and we must utilise all possible therapeutic means in order to achieve and sustain stability. However, as a healthcare service the caregiver generally tends to focus more on “cures” than on “healing”.
“Cures” specifically treat a state of physical, psychological, and emotional being of an individual, whereas; “Healing” addresses not just the disease but the whole individual.
Globally, it is a widely accepted belief that clinical treatment is more effective when the whole individual is treated; body, mind and spirit.
The brain —body communication
To keep things organised in a body, brain communication is very important. To create harmony throughout our physical-energy system, the brain uses whatever resources available. What we need to understand is how the brain can stimulate a communication system that has shut down from an overload of stress (physical stress, environmental stress, emotional stress, chemical stress).
Let us consider an analogy here of the circuit trip switches. Once there is an overload, the circuit breaks, to restart the system, someone has to turn the switch on or the circuit will not restart. Similarly, once the brain and body communication breaks someone or something has to trigger the brain to communicate with the body again.
These triggers are the five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch and taste). These senses are the information carriers for the brain that are further disintegrated into signals by the brain to stimulate healing. The brain keeps mobilising the body energy in the direction of healing therefore it is very important to switch on the brain circuit.
There is energy all around us in different forms we need to tap the right energy for the right communication of the brain to heal the body. Energy stimulates the senses. Light/ nature/ colour is energy (sense of sight); music/ voice is energy (sense of sound); aroma is energy (sense of smell); tender care is energy (sense of touch); nutrition is energy (sense of taste).
Evidences for use of such energy and its efficacy for healing exist in age old therapies being practiced worldwide; to name a few: aroma therapy, hydrotherapy, colour laser therapy, oil massage therapy, magnetic therapy, sound therapy, etc.
Healing environment
“Healing Environment” is a concept built just on this belief. However the application methodology has a slight modification with a perception to address the five senses. “Healing Environment” orients a holistic approach to healing care.
The evident question here is; what is the modification? Is this another equipment use? The answer is No and Yes! I mean it is not any special equipment that induces “Healing Environment” it is a concept that needs to be designed specific to the care/service being delivered in the area into consideration. There maybe a bit of technology in use, but not any high capital equipment.
Healing environments are best achieved when it is built into the interior designs of the hospital along with a bit of orientation training of its benefits to the staff. Value addition would be training on communication skills and behavior attitude trainings of the staff directly in contact with the patients.
Healing hospital interiors
Now, let us understand how the concept of healing environment can be integrated into hospital interior designs.
Hospitals are generally having limited natural light and natural air. To acquire infection control and dust free environments, the hospitals are generally having closed doors and windows. Environment in terms of temperature and humidity is controlled with HVAC, air curtains, etc and adequate luminance is taken care of with high wattage lights. These lights not only consume a lot of energy but also generate heat. It is therefore recommended to follow certain Green systems, to encourage more natural light and air in the building, wherever possible.
Interior colours
It has been known for ages that color plays an instrumental role in setting up a particular mood or state of mind. All respond to color environment, in some way. Some colors are soothing and tendering warmth and some stimulate the body and inhibit relaxation and sleep. Some colors inspire emotions and some influence moods, depressions, etc. There is a deep science of colors and its effects on mind and body.
Till date we see hospital interiors in monotonous white / off white / creamy shades with blue/green linen. It does not require a second look at such a room to relate it to as a hospital room. My debate is; why such self created gloom in an ambience that is supposed to cure and render care? We talk of five star looks in hospitals these days; but this look is limited only to the main entrance lobby; beyond which; is a thought to ponder on.
Interior sound
Ambient noise in a hospital can result in disturbed and deprived sleep, reduced productivity and lower performance levels by staff, errors like patient falls, etc.
In a hospital the sources of noise are many and the decibel is high. To recognise a few; the staff voices, voices of visitors and other occupants in the wards, alarm systems, the paging systems, trolley noise, clutter of utensils/bed pans, medical equipments beeping, etc. With all the emergencies and rush in a hospital, high decibel noise is bound to exist. The hospital has not only human noise but also technology noise.
Noise is one of the dynamic components of hospital environment and not under much management control. Question here is; why should any decibel level of noise be accepted in a hospital? Is noise control an activity solely of acoustic management or can it be managed by some other engineering?
This is where the design aspect comes in. The design and system needs to be such that the hospital noise is controlled at an acceptable decibel and further neutralised or balanced with external induction of soothing sound.
Such sound introduction not only reduces anxiety amongst patients but also reduces stress amongst the staff; thereby encouraging relaxed atmosphere for care and treatments and increased comfort levels amongst all.
Every organ and system in the body has its own pattern of rhythm (Pulse, cycle) and responds to sound vibrations, impacting the physical, psychological and emotional being. Healing sounds concentrates on the ability of sound and music to create vibration energies that encourage healing and initiate transformation.
Many a research suggests use of healing sound to enable relaxation which further influences lowered blood pressure, stabilising heart rate and respiratory rate, to minimise pain, reduce complications of surgical procedures, etc.
In some cases, healing harmonics can be utilised as medicine, but in all situations it can definitely be used as a pleasant value addition to any form of treatment environment.
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15 points to know before creating a healing healthcare environment in hospitals:
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Interior aroma
The typical odour of antiseptic/ spirit which is so often used in hospitals is not unfamiliar. Any such odour even outside a hospital reminds an individual of a hospital or a healthcare clinic. Apart from this smell there is a mix of other gases, sterilising solutions that add to the odour of a hospital.
Again we may not be able to reduce use of these important materials and solvents in a hospital but we can control the odor with an adjunction of some aroma.
Aroma therapy is not new. It is applied with use of therapeutic essential oils and methods of applications to the skin. However it needs to be well learnt before practiced. I am not discussing the science of aroma therapy; I am suggesting an innovative use of this science in a different form, by adding a well studied combination of flavors in the environment to control the odor and provide a comfortable environment that exhale odors that remind a person of a state of being with natural ambience and not a certain state of sickness.
Nutrition to taste
In today’s rapidly changing and challenging healthcare environment, leaders are challenged to focus on aspects that yield quality in both patient care and business performance.
Other than the doctor’s expertise and the nurse’s care the food is one of the criteria that people remember about their stay at the hospital; hence dietary service plays a very significant role in satisfying the patients.
Healthy food is important in the treatment of the patient and is a part of patient’s total care. Bland food, tasteless meals is a frequent complaint observed by hospital patients at large. It is an ongoing challenge for every hospital nutritionist to achieve a balance between nutrition and taste in the meals for the not so happy taste buds in a hospital set-up. The dietary team must continue innovating interesting tastes along with the nutritional content to serve and satisfy the patients.
Care: The touch, compassion, smile and healing process
Last but not the least, in fact the most important energy that a hospital is required to vibe for effective healing and faster recovery of a patient is care.
Care that is accompanied with good clinical knowledge, compassion for the ailing and a cheerful smile that would energise the whole environment.
A small verse for all the healthcare givers that continue to serve responsibly and cheerfully always, no matter what stress they may be in…
“With an eternal pace and a smiling flair, They dexterously work in the curing lair…
Rendering the healing touch and tender care, Harmonising wisdom and compassion so rare…”
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