Healthcare Settings

A visit to a Hospital or Clinic would make most people a bit uncomfortable and the feeling of being in an alien place greeted by people in white, wall colours painted white and the smell of the heavy fumigation adds to the woes.

Adapting Feng Shui, one could make the place brighter and more comfortable to the patients and the visitors. In certain parts of the world, especially in UK and Canada, many Hospitals have adapted interiors different from the normal Hospital set up and Feng Shui techniques have further enhanced the feel of the place and the energy flow has been maintained quite balanced.

Designed to be functional, hospitals and clinics often have florescent lighting, all-white walls, metal furniture, and built-in desks and bookcases. As a result, healthcare settings can feel cold and impersonal, contributing to a patient’s level of anxiety and discomfort.

Over the years it has been noticed that patients, families, and even medical staff appear calm and relaxed in settings that incorporate the principles of Feng Shui. Healthcare providers can modify the healthcare environments using Feng Shui principles. By making simple and often inexpensive changes, clinicians can create environments in which people feel comfortable communicating with one another.

Lighting: Most healthcare settings use florescent lights that function by flickering on and off up to 60 times per second. While this is too rapid for the eye to see, this flicker is noticed on a subliminal level and can cause fatigue. To offset this effect, add lamps that use incandescent bulbs. Or let in natural sunlight by opening window shades and blinds.

Colour: Medical settings tend to be monochromatic. Clinicians often wear white uniforms or lab coats and work in rooms with white or off-white walls. All-white environments such as these can create a sense of low energy. To offset this feeling, think of ways to introduce more colour. Consider wearing uniforms that have patterns, or add pins or scarves to brighten up white lab coats. As appropriate, suggest that your facility use wallpaper borders or decorative accents to add colour to treatment areas and public spaces.

Sound: Healthcare settings can be noisy places with frequent overhead announcements, numerous hallway conversations, and equipment that are wheeled from one space to another. To offset these institutional noises, speak slowly and use a soft tone of voice. Create a sense of privacy by playing soothing music or relaxation tapes, filtering out intrusive background sounds.

Living things: Plants and animals often help people feel calm. While these may be banned in healthcare settings due to concerns about contaminants or allergies, consider using high-quality silk plants as a way to introduce a feeling of living things to the environment. Aquariums are the best  to soothe nerves and make the place pleasant.

Furniture arrangement:  Many healthcare facilities have large open spaces, high ceilings, and long corridors. Use furniture and decorations to create the feeling of smaller and more intimate spaces. This can be done, for example, by using moveable bookcases or hanging star decals on the ceiling.

Clutter: There is often a lot of clutter in healthcare settings, both in treatment areas and patients’ rooms. This clutter can be distracting and drag down the energy in a room. To make spaces feel more comfortable, make sure that all visible items are genuinely useful and truly loved.

[fengshui@fengshuiserver.com]