Ramat Gan, Israel
Sheba Medical Center
One of these examples is the Emergency hospital at Sheba medical center in Israel, where the COVID-19 intensive care unit has been built in an underground parking structure. In this environment, there was no daylight, and it was equipped with high-tech systems.
Employees who worked long shifts in this environment had the sense of being in a submarine (as described by a physician working there). Additionally, when doing better, patients requested to be moved to a place with windows. These reactions are in hindsight not surprising, as access to daylight has been found to be a primary predictor of well-being[1][2][3]. Hence, even though these emergency hospital solutions might address the primary purpose of providing space to care for the patients in need, it still might be worthwhile to consider the work environment these temporary structures provide when employees work there over a prolonged period of time.
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References
[1] Mroczek, J., Mikitarian, G., Vieira, E. & Rotarius, T. Hospital Design and Staff Perceptions. Health Care Manag. (Frederick). 24, 233–244 (2005).
[2] Rea, M. Lighting for caregivers in the neonatal intensive care unit. Clin. Perinatol. 31, 229–42, vi (2004).
[3] Verderber, S. & Reuman, D. Windows, views, and health status in hospital therapeutic environments. J. Archit. Plann. Res. 4, 120–133 (1987).