"The...18 Chapters...are easy to read, thoughtful and thought provoking. There is breadth of vision shown by all contributors."
"Healthcare reform, day surgery and long-term care are among areas discussed, with reference to change. A future model of 'a seamless continuum of care, void of walls and barriers' is predicted, and the scope, efficiency and quality of operation and services is examined"
Journal of Advanced Nursing
Reviewer: Donald L. Madison, MD (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Medicine)
Description: This book, edited by two British architects, contains contributions from 16 facilities planners and healthcare administrators (from a variety of health professional backgrounds) from the U.K. and the U.S.
Purpose: The purpose is to envision the "future healthcare landscape." Although this is a futurist discussion, which inevitably must deal with healthcare organization, the treatment of organizational issues is superficial and tends toward the obvious; the emphasis (and strongest part of the book) is on the physical environment for service, not its organization. "Future Landscape" as used here is not a metaphor.
Audience: The audience would include architects and administrators/planners.
Features: A few of the book's 19 chapters address general topics briefly and superficially: "Healthcare Reform and Change," "The Impact of Technology," "Primary Care," etc. The book's focus, however, is on the physical environment for healthcare. There are chapters on "Senior Day Care," "Life Care," "Assisted Living," and on long-term care, nursing homes, facilities for patients with dementia, in-patient hospice care, as well as more general discussions of "Patient-Focused Design," "The Healing Environment," and "Reusing Existing Buildings." Many of these topics are illustrated by photographs and architectural schematics.
Assessment: The connection of physical space and service organization is clearly the book's strength. Yet, it could also be its weakness, because many administrators will wish for a more intelligent discussion of the organizational side, and architects may well find similar fault with its elementary treatment of design issues.
2 Stars from Doody
This book, edited by two British architects, contains contributions from 16 facilities planners and healthcare administrators (from a variety of health professional backgrounds) from the U.K. and the U.S. The purpose is to envision the ""future healthcare landscape."" Although this is a futurist discussion, which inevitably must deal with healthcare organization, the treatment of organizational issues is superficial and tends toward the obvious; the emphasis (and strongest part of the book) is on the physical environment for service, not its organization. ""Future Landscape"" as used here is not a metaphor. The audience would include architects and administrators/planners. A few of the book's 19 chapters address general topics briefly and superficially: ""Healthcare Reform and Change,"" ""The Impact of Technology,"" ""Primary Care,"" etc. The book's focus, however, is on the physical environment for healthcare. There are chapters on ""Senior Day Care,"" ""Life Care,"" ""Assisted Living,"" and on long-term care, nursing homes, facilities for patients with dementia, in-patient hospice care, as well as more general discussions of ""Patient-Focused Design,"" ""The Healing Environment,"" and ""Reusing Existing Buildings."" Many of these topics are illustrated by photographs and architectural schematics. The connection of physical space and service organization is clearly the book's strength. Yet, it could also be its weakness, because many administrators will wish for a more intelligent discussion of the organizational side, and architects may well find similar fault with its elementary treatment of design issues.
A description of new architectural directions in health care program facilities and assisted living residences, identifying the core changes in health care delivery expected in the future and the design needs which those changes will require. The 16 essays written by architects, doctors, and facilities managers target the impacts of healthcare reform, technology, community care in the UK, and the more particular issue of creating buildings which humanely and efficiently accommodate requirements for long term care, senior day care, assisted living, nursing homes, dementia care, and hospice care. The design descriptions and outlines are patient focused, and sometimes involve reusing existing buildings. Includes illustrations and some photographs. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)