Over the years, experts have begun to weigh in on the effects that hospital design has on patient care and wellbeing. As it turns out, the overall design and aesthetic beauty of a healthcare setting actually does play a role in helping patients heal, so much so that hospitals are now turning to architects and interior designers to redo their buildings in order to help their patients get better.

The Aesthetics of Healing

In a noted study, researchers found that simply having patients in a room with a window had reduced postsurgical complications and helped them recover from surgery. In a similar study, 95% of patients who were able to walk through the hospital's garden reported a therapeutic benefit.

Everything from natural lighting to a room's layout has an impact, and many hospitals have even turned to hanging pieces of art on the walls to increase patient happiness and wellbeing.

When Beauty Meets Functionality

What if you could combine the beauty of art with the benefits of increasing patient communication, all with a single addition to any hospital room? That is precisely the benefits of using hospital whiteboards.

While a piece of art or a beautiful view may lift the spirits of patients and help them heal better, a whiteboard with vital information on patient treatment, scheduled procedures and clinician information offers much more. The benefits that hospital dry erase boards provide to patients go far beyond simple aesthetics.

Studies have shown that patients who are actively involved in their own care report higher levels of satisfaction. When information on a patient's care is clearly communicated using a whiteboard, patients are far more likely to see themselves as a partner in their own care. This communication and patient engagement is one of the most influential factors in raising HCAHPS scores.

Patients are also far more likely to retain information when it is written on a whiteboard. Almost double as likely, to be exact. Research has shown that patients remember only 40% of what is verbally communicated to them. When the information is written down, they can recall up to 70% of what they read.

What Will You Write on Your Board

At VividBoard, we go out of our way to customize every whiteboard we sell to the exact specifications of our healthcare clients. From colors to framing, branded images and so much more, our VividDesign team can help you choose the perfect board to fit your organization's style. From there, our team will help you choose which information you want presented on the board. Take a look at our healthcare IdeaBook for more ideas, then request a free quote to get started.