New design guidelines set to be released this month all but abolish shared rooms in new hospital construction. Private rooms, it is argued, reduce the chances of infection, lower the risk of medical errors and decrease the odds of privacy violations. The guidelines, which are released every four years by the Facilities Guidelines Institute, are widely used by state governments in the licensing and constructional approval process. The new rules also call for better ventilation systems to help check the spread of bacteria and more isolation areas where patients with communicable diseases can be quarantined.
- see this article from The Wall Street Journal (sub. req.)