Research by Steelcase Health has formalised something that many people who’ve visited a loved one in hospital have probably felt intrinsically: the design of the patient’s room can impact family experiences and engagement in a loved one’s care. What’s more, it can impact patient satisfaction and outcomes.

According to the research, patient rooms often do not adequately meet the needs of family members and are not designed to help them navigate the multiple roles they play while supporting a loved one who is hospitalised. In many current patient room settings, says Steelcase Health, family members are often faced with challenges related to communication, sleeping, sharing meals, hosting visitors, storage and overcrowding, and maintaining daily routines such as paying bills and working.

At NeoCon 2017, Steelcase Health launched Surround – a collection of healthcare furnishings with the flexibility to support multiple types of use by the families of patients. The collection has the flexibility to serve as a sofa or sleep surface, and has features to support eating, working and socialising.

“Healthcare environments can be a tool to help providers support family members’ desire to be involved in a loved one’s care, but few hospitals leverage the space they have to do this effectively,” said Michelle Ossmann, PhD, MSN, Director of Healthcare Environments for Steelcase Health.

She continues, “Unfortunately, family space design can often feel like an afterthought. Surround helps to create a space that indicates family is welcome and supports basic activities like eating, sleeping, and engaging in critical conversations with doctors and nurses.”

Surround incorporates an integrated sliding table, a fold-down sleeper component, power outlets and a USB port in the sofa arm, open storage for personal belongings, a small reading light, and easy-to-clean surfaces.