The Outdoor Care Retreat: Key Insights for Navigating Biophilic Design Innovation in Healthcare Environments

Area of Science:

• Environmental psychology
• Healthcare innovation
• Biophilic design

Background:

• Environmental psychology links biophilic design to improved well-being, health, and patient satisfaction.
• Integrating biophilic design into public healthcare settings presents significant challenges.
• There is a need for research on innovative biophilic design applications in healthcare.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore insights into navigating biophilic design innovation within public healthcare.
• To examine the implementation of biophilic design using specific case studies.
• To identify key factors for successful biophilic design integration in healthcare.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative case study approach.
• Analysis of eight in-depth interviews with project stakeholders.
• Review of online public records and digital documents.

Main Results:

• Biophilic design implementation is facilitated by moving beyond conventional healthcare practices.
• Key success factors include compelling narratives, individual engagement, and supportive organizational/environmental contexts.
• Findings offer practical insights for public healthcare innovation in biophilic design.

Conclusions:

• This study bridges the gap between biophilic design theory and public healthcare practice.
• Provides actionable insights for implementing biophilic design in healthcare environments.
• Highlights the potential for enhanced patient and family hospitalization experiences.