| This project proposes the design of a post-surgical inpatient rehabilitative space, which will serve as a universal prototype for patients with spinal cord injuries. This facility will illustrate a more efficient spatial configuration that not only incorporates administrative resources into the caregiving realm but also focuses on the concept of slowness in that there is neither a sense of being rushed to heal nor a hurried sense of communication between staff, patients and their families.;In many cases, the administrative services department is separated from, or at the very least inconvenient to, the main hubs of patient activity. Therefore, administrators are not often consulted in the patient's care, which can result in clerical and medical errors. As a solution, I will place administrative workers, nurses and other caregivers at the same work stations on all floor levels to ensure a commitment to patient-centered care.;With my personal experiences serving as a frame of reference, post-surgical care patients are often released from hospital care before they are fully self-sufficient. This is mainly attributed to insurers who do not see extended care as being profitable for their bottom line. With this in mind, I will focus on the concept of creating slowness in the rehabilitative environment so that no matter how little time a patient may be allowed to stay in the facility, the emphasis will be on taking the time to heal. Specifically slowness will be encouraged by designing curved planes, carved out niches, textural and light changes in addition to differing ceiling heights.;This study will provide a viable alternative to the traditional post-hospital.;rehabilitative space and will depict a prototype that can be used anywhere in the country. |
