Technology Considerations for Behavioral Health Facilities

In behavioral healthcare design, integrating technology solutions to foster a supportive patient environment goes beyond functionality and complying with requirements in a code book or local AHJ.Careful consideration and use of technology devices in a facility should minimize impact on the patient care environment and streamline staff operations.Whether it is a standalone building, a unit within emergency services, or dedicated in-patient/outpatient floor units in a hospital tower, working with a dedicated technology consultant can help healthcare providers navigate three common considerations when integrating technology for their facilities with a behavioral health program: enhancing safety, promoting healing environments, and campus integration.

Enhancing Safety

For areas of a healthcare facility where the patient population is receiving behavioral health treatment, enhancement of safety for patients and staff is a top priority.In addition to spaces and equipment typically found in healthcare environments, one of the primary challenges in behavioral health design is strategic placement of technology to maintain audio and visual communications with patients while controlling in/out access and surveillance of the behavioral health areas.Relocating essential technology devices from vulnerable positions can mitigate abuse while enhancing patient safety and allowing for constant communication with staff.Examples of designing a safer security system includes planning ligature resistant security card readers for entry/exit, nurse call push-button style call devices within the wall, and vandal resistant style panoramic view cameras at the ceiling–planned with microphone and audio capabilities to limit patient access to devices in the wall.Similar examples are found in audiovisual systems where we will shroud displays with ligature resistant coverings, locate patient displays behind plexiglass (while being considerate of audio and ventilation requirements), and recess-mount (flush-mount) any loudspeakers. These extra steps require more attention and coordination between the entire design team, but ultimately provide a safer environment for both the patient and caregiving staff.Such alternate approaches are necessary to safeguard patients, staff, and medical equipment–which may require deviating from standard IT design practice and infrastructure planning.

Promoting Healing Environments

The use of therapeutic sound is increasingly recognized as crucial in promoting a healing environment for behavioral health patients.Behavioral health facilities are adopting specialized sound systems for use beyond the traditional healthcare facility overhead paging setups to facilitate an ambiance of music, including crafted biophilic audio (nature sounds) and soothing artificial soundscapes.To satisfy anti-ligature standards, speaker placement must be flush with walls and ceilings.Because of the augmented functional requirements of the sound system, additional design considerations must take into account how sound fills a space and may require additional speakers and unique speaker placement for patients to realize the full benefits of the system.

Campus Integration

Many behavioral health facilities are part of a healthcare campus. Whether it is a dedicated treatment unit on a patient floor, a standalone building on (or off) campus, or a unit within the emergency services department, the technology solutions and devices selected must integrate with the facility’s solutions for access control, patient wandering, camera surveillance, nurse call, and overhead paging.Adding such devices to enhance and strengthen security measures necessitates robust connectivity strategies.For example, ensuring the telecom room serving a behavioral health unit or facility is planned to have the greatest survivability, with infrastructure such as redundant backbone cabling, routing of conduit pathways, and fire rating of telecom spaces to support maximum reliability when connecting to an onsite/offsite data center or the main telecommunications spaces serving the campus.Such strategies prevent disruptions to crucial network connections.Planning IT infrastructure and pathways early in the design process allows for more seamless integration with the campus’s existing infrastructure.

Summary

Having proactive collaboration on these technology integrations with your design team early will elevate the design process for your next behavioral health facility or unit to better reflect your specific operational and workflow needs.Technology solutions such as secure in-wall and flush ceiling-mounted devices prioritize audio and visual communications with patients.Optimizing speaker type and placements helps promote a healing environment.Finally, planning robust campus network cabling and technology system integrations solidifies the backbone of a facility, creating a safe and supportive environment for patients.

For personalized guidance on implementing these strategies on your next project, please reach out to us through our website’s contact page and start the conversation with one of our healthcare leaders.

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