What makes SJH Regional Medical Center stand apart from all other hospitals is its basic design. And studies are showing that design makes a big difference. A recent Wall Street Journal article documented that better hospital design can actually help patients heal faster.

The following are some of the ways the SJH Regional Medical Center has designed a healing environment:

• Private rooms. All patient rooms are private rooms, with private attached bathrooms and room for a family member to sleep. Each room has natural light plus sound-absorbing ceiling and floor tiles.
  
• Centers of Care. The hospital is designed to place similar services near each other, so patients don't have to move around much in the hospital and so nurses can develop an expertise in each center of care.
  
• Healing garden. Patients can visit a healing garden to feel closer to nature while still within the protection of the hospital.
  
• Welcoming design. Even the interior decoration of the hospital is designed to make patients feel welcome and relaxed. Rich textures and colors give the hospital a modern appearance.
  
• Maternity suites. Many expectant mothers can stay in the same room in the hospital from the moment they arrive to when they deliver their babies and go home. Each maternity suite has a home-like feel while including all the equipment necessary to ensure a safe labor, delivery and recovery. Each room also has a private bathtub and shower.
  
• Multiple nursing stations. SJH Regional Medical Center replaced the traditional long halls and central nursing stations with a clustered approach. In addition to a centralized area in the care center, each nurse has a small station to help keep a closer eye on the patients under his or her care.

Not only has the better design meant better patient care, but it is also attracting better staff. Nursing recruitment is up at SJH Regional Medical Center, defying a national trend toward low nursing recruitment. Better nurses means better care for patients, many times over.