Hello all,
I’m challenged with some long corridors on inpatient units. Do any of you have a best practice (or evidence-based) maximum length of patient bedroom corridor before it becomes unsafe or too long for staff to adequately manage? Distance from care team to farthest patient room.
Thanks in advance!
Brian
Hi Brian,
We use 90’ as a maximum for facial recognition from the nurse station. This was based on research done for projects some years ago. The staff tested the 90 foot distance. Facial recognition might not be the only consideration for setting the corridor length.
If I can find the research article, I will be sure to send it your way!
Sarah
We’ve run simulations with staff based on response time to help determine distance as well.
The only study I’ve seen was at 50’ but applying these studies changes based on project conditions.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0042698923000081
I’d be curious about the 90’ study as well when you find it.
SP
Stephen Parker, AIA NOMA NCARB LEED AP
Mental + Behavioral Health Planner
Stantec Architecture
Direct: 202.478.3763
Mobile: 703.501.3514
Behavioral Health (stantec.com)
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Hi Brian - In about the 2017/2018 timeframe, BHFC completed a study with several existing projects for visual observation and audio awareness at varying distances down a patient corridor. Our study findings determined at a distance of 70ft the staff began to have some difficulty with observation and understanding what was happening during our test. At a maximum of 90ft distance, staff were challenged to recognize and hear what was happening during our test.
Hope this helps.
Best.
Kim
Thanks for your insights on this topic, Kim, Stephen, and Sarah! Very helpful. I had 90’ in my head, probably based on previous conversations we’ve had so it’s good to have some alignment (maybe 90’ is too far).
I’m continuing to dig into this and asked one of our acoustical engineers for input. From an auditory perspective, because there are too many variables, it is difficult for them to assign a maximum length as a general rule but could measure how acoustical improvements increase comfort with longer distances. @kimberly it sounds like you replicated your test in multiple facilities. Would be interesting to compare the acoustic properties of those spaces to others with longer travel distances.
A best practice likely results from auditory as well as other factors such as safety, perception of safety, staff response time, patient population. A good topic to study.
Curious if anyone on the clinical side has insight on this topic.
Best,
Brian
Sounds like a worthy research project to get peer review and collaborative evidence to validate best practices.
