Houston Methodist ER expansion addresses patient well-being with art and color

When it became evident that the ER department at Houston Methodist was prime for expansion, its capacity was not the only thing on the drawing board. The new department almost doubled its capacity from 20 beds to 39, but it also addressed what was perceived to be a harsh, sterile environment that did little to speak to the stress that goes hand-in-hand with emergency room visits.

The previous incarnation of the ER was much as you would expect. The harsh environment, designed in the 1950s, echoed the aesthetic (or lack thereof) of most of America’s hospitals and was decidedly uncomforting in its severity.

In the process of reimagining the space, they applied a softer color palette, color-coded their stations to make the large space more navigable, and hung photographs taken by HM employees that were chosen to match the hues of the new paint scheme.

I CARE employee volunteer program’s artful contribution

The employee photographs are chosen by contest and based on a new theme each year. The themes are determined relative to a combination of the hospital’s “I CARE” values as well as their connection to nature.

Each year, a theme is chosen and employees are invited to submit their photographs for consideration. Out of 800 submissions, 40 are chosen to display throughout the department, matching the color themes of each station to help patients navigate the department more easily.

The photographs themselves are also seen as a calming and stress-reducing factor. Based on studies that date back to the 1980s, it is known that patients recover more quickly from surgery when they are in hospital rooms that offer them a view of nature. These studies were expanded to include pictures of nature and natural scenes, concluding that these types of visuals have a significantly positive effect on how people respond to stress.

Personalizing care

Houston Methodist sees the program as a multi-faceted initiative; it encourages employees to get involved and to share their talents, and it offers incoming patients and their families the ability to personalize the people who are delivering their care.

The scientific aspect of the project focuses on color therapy and using art as a stress-reducing factor, but it also serves a more practical purpose as it helps people navigate the various stations within the department. Different colors are chosen for each station and feature soft, calming hues that are found in nature.

The photographs match, mirror or accent these colors perfectly, providing patients and ER visitors with a simple roadmap of hues that tell them which hallway they are in, what room, and what nurse’s station connects them with their doctor or loved ones.

As an added bonus, the photographs have been beneficial in lending a sense of calm to the entire environment – patients, staff, and physicians alike.

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