ABSTRACT
The embattled frontier of the American hospital has experienced a tumultuous evolution in recent decades. Rapid changes in the healthcare landscape have created an unstable environment for health organizations and the facilities they inhabit. In a consolidated health campus model, the massive scale can often overshadow the patient experience. To counteract this pitfall, the flows of different user groups should be separate and streamlined with definitive arrival and discharge points. In addition, staff and materials should be sequestered in offstage areas to eliminate patient exposure. Creating a therapeutic environment that merges a patient’s emotional needs with the practical needs of a hospital is about addressing the holistic care of the patient, as well as acknowledging the impact that the built environment can have on clinical outcomes and staff effectiveness. The viability of the consolidated health campus begins and ends with addressing the needs of the community.
