The average length of a hospital stay in OECD countries was eight days in 2015. Staying in a hospital for an extended period of time is not easy. Patients have limited mobility, they are away from the comforts of their home and their family, and they may be experiencing pain, trauma, or difficulty sleeping.
Researchers have discovered that the hospital environment makes a noticeable difference in recovery times. Patients who had artwork in their rooms, could look out windows, or had access to green space had less anxiety, lower blood pressure, took fewer pain killers, and had quicker recovery times than those patients without. Rooftop gardens, treed walking paths, and green walls support healing in the Stanford Hospital in California, shown in the figure below.
Similar outcomes were observed in a study conducted by the University of Southern California. Features such as views of and access to nature-based solutions (NBS) like gardens and parks had many positive effects on patient’s well-being. Nature attracted more patients than the quality of the medical care provided. These patients also experienced up to 50% less hospital-acquired infections, a 10% reduction in length of stay, they required fewer pain killers, and had shorter recovery time. Bringing nature inside, like in an atrium, works well in colder climates and has the same benefits, as seen in the Bronson Methodist Hospital in Michigan. Patients, as well as hospital staff and family members benefit from the addition of nature; experiencing lowered stress, blood pressure, and an increase in enjoyment in these stressful health centres.
