How Do Psychiatric Units Need to Be Different From General Hospital Units?

GENERAL HOSPITAL

• Focus is on treating medical conditions

FUNCTION OF SPACE:

• Treatment takes place in patient rooms

• Family visitation takes place in patient rooms

• Patient is in room majority of the time

FLOOR PLAN HAZARDS:

• Travel distance for staff from service core to patient room is primary traffic flow

• Access to unit is unrestricted

• Group Rooms and Activity Rooms not required

• Interview Rooms and Visitation Rooms not required

• Observation of corridors from staff station not required

• Seclusion Rooms not required

• Direction of door swings for patient rooms are not important

PRODUCT AND MATERIAL HAZARDS:

• Medical gasses

• Monitors and cables

• Sharps containers

• IV poles

• Cubicle curtain tracks

• Open grab bars

• Open flush valves

• Open bed pan washers

• Accessible ceilings

• Windows

• Heating and air conditioning systems and grilles

• Light fixtures

• Electrically operated beds

• Wardrobes and clothes hangers

• Wall mounted television sets

PSYCHIATRIC UNIT

• Focus on keeping patient safe from self-harm and protecting other patients and staff

FUNCTION OF SPACE:

• Treatment takes place in Interview Rooms, Group Rooms and Activity Rooms

• Family Visitation takes place in common areas and Interview Rooms

• Patient is encouraged NOT to be in patient room except at night and rest periods

FLOOR PLAN SOLUTIONS:

• Observation of corridors and Day Rooms from staff station is a primary concern

• Access to and from the unit is restricted

• Travel distance for staff from service core to patient rooms not critical

• Group Rooms, Activity Rooms, Interview Rooms and Seclusion Rooms are required

• Direction of door swings to resist barricading is important

LESS HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS:

• Typical patient rooms and toilets DO NOT have the following: Medical gas outlets, monitors with related cables, sharps containers, IV poles, curtain cubicle tracks, accessible ceilings, television sets, telephones, nurse call systems, bed pan washers
  

• Typical patient rooms and patient toilets DO have the following: shatter resistant windows and mirrors, platform beds that are secured in palace, wardrobes with only open fixed shelves, ligature resistant door hardware and toilet accessories, vandal resistant heating and cooling systems and light fixtures, ligature resistant plumbing fixtures, concealed plumbing pipes