Designing Smart Rooms for Veterans: Embracing the Principles of Trauma-Informed Design
Written by Andy Figallo, VP of Partner Success, Vibe Health by eVideon
Trauma-informed care and design are emerging disciplines in healthcare. Trauma-informed care (TIC) promotes healing and recovery and avoids practices that may re-traumatize the patient. A derivative of TIC is trauma-informed design.
Trauma-informed design constructs an environment that promotes healing and evokes psychological and physical safety, connectivity, empowerment, self-worth and happiness. The VA takes trauma-informed design to heart, incorporating patient-centered technology and features throughout its facilities and patient rooms.
Each year, the VA serves more than 27,000 veterans with spinal cord injuries (SCI), making it the world’s largest health system providing lifelong SCI care. In many cases, veterans with spinal cord injuries are long-term residents. These veterans may stay in an SCI unit for months or even years. Their daily living and care environment must be conducive to promoting each veteran’s independence and quality of life.
The team at eVideon understands the basic components of creating an exceptional experience for veterans and their families. In working with the VA to design and implement the Vibe Health by eVideon smart room platform, our team focuses on critical traits that adhere to the principles of trauma-informed design.
Read the full article to explore the four considerations when designing smart rooms for Veterans, their families, and all who care for them.
