Radiology Design Project Primer

The design of hospital environments is receiving increased attention as an important contributor to patient satisfaction and experience, which have a direct impact on reimbursement. Well-designed health care environments can decrease stress, improve concentration, and contribute to improved patient outcomes and enhanced staff morale. Most radiologists and business directors lack formal training in design and may feel they have little to contribute to design planning, yet creating an optimal environment for patients requires a strong understanding of local demographics and both patient and staff needs, which is a core responsibility of radiology leadership. This article presents practical guidelines for selecting a design partner for an imaging construction project, developing a design theme and design sensibilities, and engaging a multidisciplinary radiology team in working with a designer; the goal is to enable radiology leadership to collaborate with designers to cocreate health care environments that aspire to be integral components of patient-centered care and experience.