Hospitals play an important role in the restoration of individuals’ health back on track. However, to many hospitals, the primary focus is only on the plan of the hospital, the number of employees that it will employ and the way the beds will be placed. On the contrary, though, it is worth noting that a healing hospital is the one that makes the patients being taken care for feel safe while at the same time creating the feeling of responsibility in the employees working in these settings. Therefore, a healing hospital is supposed to encompass the healing physical environment, the outline and technology being used in the hospital and radical loving culture of care (Ansari, 2014).
Healing physical environment
A healing hospital is supposed to be constructed in such a way that it is aesthetically appealing to the patients that will be taken care of. Therefore, there is the need to integrate the provision of care by the healthcare staff to the families of the affected individuals. An environment which is aesthetically pleasing and compassionate is a key step towards promoting healing (Ansari, 2014). These environments are aimed at making patients and their family members to easily cope with stress levels associated with illnesses and should be quiet to allow patients have peaceful sleeping sessions. Sleeping assists in cell restoration thereby boosting the body’s performance levels. This aspect of the healing hospital is connected with spirituality in the sense that a compassionate environment creates a platform whereby the patient’s and their families’ spiritual beliefs can be taken into perspective and accorded the required respect. It becomes easier for patients to discuss their spiritual standings with the healthcare providers taking care of them (Eberst, 2015).
Hospital outline and technology in use
It is important that the technology and design used to construct hospitals be in such a way that allows the hospital staff work in an efficient manner while providing the required security and privacy to patients. These efforts are aimed at promoting the concept of a healing environment. The hospital is supposed to be constructed in such a way that both the staff and the patient can maneuver easily within the confines of the hospital (Eberst, 2015). Additionally, there is the need for the privacy of the patients to be taken into consideration with the objectives of preserving their dignity. Moreover, the technological design of the hospital should integrate factors like music and comedy television channels which make patients to laugh. Laughing and soothing oneself with music is an important factor in stimulating healing since they provide a relaxing environment to the patients and the care providers in charge of them. This healing environment is connected with spirituality in the sense that patients who view diseases as a punishment from God and as such have got a sense of guilt due to this realization (Eberst, 2015). Providing such patients with a technologically serene environment composed of privacy, music and laughter is important in reducing such guilty conscience with the objectives of ensuring these patients come out with positive outcomes.
Radical and loving culture It is worth noting that hospitals can be in a better position to provide all the p0hysicval aspects of a hospital, however, if there is no love being extended to the patients then the concept of healing will only be a mirage (Ansari, 2014). It is important that a healing hospital does not only focus on the physical healing aspect but also the emotional aspect with the objective of providing holistic care. In this direction, therefore, care providers are supposed to provide loving care to the patients under their watch. It is crucial that care providers be wholly involved in the life of their patients in such times with the aims of taking care of their spiritual needs. Showing love to patients helps in boosting their spiritual beliefs in the treatment process, therefore, boosting healing process (Dossey et al., 2012).
Challenges to healing environment
The factors likely to pose challenges to the healing environment mainly stem from the fact that the required resources may not be easy to come by. The required funding to design a hospital that can be used in providing the required care to patients and also getting the required personnel customized towards providing this environment pose a challenge towards achieving the objectives of this cause(Ansari, 2014). In the event that care providers lack the appropriate health literacy crucial for this process, the risk factors associated with poor care provision are a likely result. Additionally, lack of sufficient spaces for the families and relatives to suit and relax compromises the aspect of privacy which is important in boosting healing levels. Increasing noise levels works against the maxims of a quiet and serene environment which is a prerequisite for the healing process (Dossey et al., 2012). It is also challenging to have all the care providers to act in one voice towards achieving the goals of a healing environment. It is critical that care providers have a feeling of providing this type of care as a team rather than as individuals. This factor is only possible if the appropriate communication is put into consideration.
Biblical aspects of healing hospital
The bible also points out the possibilities of having a healing environment. In Jeremiah 33:6, the Bible says that “Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security (Jeremiah 33:6 NIV).” It is evident that this verse points out the concept of a healing environment since it talks about healing individuals with the objectives of them having peace and security. As such, it is care providers who are in charge of ensuring that the required care is extended to the patients being taken care by them to promote their physical and emotional healing.
References
Ansari, M. A. A. (2014). Health by Design-A Patient Centered Approach in Hospital Design to Create Healing Environment. Journal of Civil Engineering and Environmental Technology (JCEET), 21.
Dossey, B. M., Certificate, C. D. I. N. C., Keegan, L., & Co-Director International Nurse Coach Association. (2012). Holistic nursing. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.
Eberst, L. (2015). Healing Hospital. Retrieved from http://www.bestcompaniesaz.com/pdf/HealingHospital.pdf
The Holy Bible NIV. (1996). Wheaton Ill: Tyndale House Publishers Inc.
