The hospital of the future feels like home

Beijing University Cancer Hospital has a special ward – a ward that's designed to evoke the warmth and comfort of home.

Medical service providers are paying more attention to the experience of staying in or visiting medical facilities and towards “patient-centered” care.¹

This shift in focus - putting the patient experience front and center in health care -allows doctors to take better care of those who count on their expertise. A patient-centered approach also ensures that people receiving care feel comfortable and cared for.

In 2019, Beijing University Cancer Hospital (also known as Peking University Cancer Hospital) wanted to design a patient-centric ward by providing ample space, comfort, and air cleaning technology.

TheHospital and Glory Design worked with IQAir to create a hospital room that makes the person receiving care the most important part of the experience.

IQAir contributed its technology to help make care a more humane experience for both doctors and people receiving care.

A patient-centered room design

Every detail in the design of the hospital patient-centered room is intended to help provide the highest care.

Pictured: The ward's floorplan.

Space for friends and family

The family should also feel cared for as they spend a long time with their loved ones in a place that could sometimes feel cold and unwelcoming.²

The hospital designed resting areas and space for both the person receiving care and their family members, including sufficient space for a wheelchair.

Pictured: The ward's wheelchair accessibility floorplan

Protecting those most vulnerable from air pollution and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)

People receiving care are vulnerable to both air pollution and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Air pollution can make infections worse, and can also affect staff, families, and visitors.^3,4,5

The IQAir GCMultiGas helps address both air pollution and HAIs.

This high-performance air purifier removes chemical odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as well as 99.5% of airborne bacteria, allergens, and particulate matter, including dangerous PM2.5 and ultrafine particles.

Ultrafine particles are so small that, when inhaled, they can enter the bloodstream and reach all of the body's organs. According to research on the health effects of ultrafine particles published in Experimental & Molecular Medicine, ultrafine particles have been linked to serious health concerns, including:⁶

• diabetes
• cancer
• systemic inflammation
• coughing
• worsening asthma

Particulate matter can also act as a carrier for airborne viruses.7 A 2020 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health conducted research in Northern Italy to determine whether particulate matter could act as a carrier of the COVID-19 virus as it does for other viruses and bacteria. The study concluded that there was a correlation between high and rapid increases of COVID-19 contagion and particulate matter measurements exceeding Italy's regulations.

The GC MultiGas air purifier helps reduce air pollution that triggers infections and inflammation, helping prevent secondary infections that can occur in hospitals.

Though they aren't intended to serve as a first line of defense against bacteria and viruses - a defense that includes good hygiene, social distancing, and wearing masks - air purifiers can play a role in helping reduce virus transmission.

Pictured: An IQAir air purifier next to a hospital bed.

IQAir also provided the room with anAirVisual Pro air quality monitor to make sure that families and doctors can monitor the room’s air quality with real-time indoor air quality data.

AirVisual Pro is an award-winning air quality monitor capable of reading levels of particulate matter in the air, including fine particles that measure down to 0.3 microns in size.

IQAir has a long history of delivering hospital air purification technology to medical facilities. During the SARS outbreak of 2003, IQAir was selected by the Hong Kong Hospital Authority to provide air filtration systems for hospitals across Hong Kong.

In early 2020, IQAir also provided air purifiers for hospital radiology units and respiratory units in the Wuhan, China region to help mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

Enhancing the in-patient and family experience

In addition to providing high quality air purification, this room’s enhanced design ensures a safety-oriented and health-focused experience for people seeking medical assistance and their families. Design enhancements include:

• Mobile power supply for consistent access to electronics
• Antibacterial curtains for privacy and protection from airborne bacteria
• Red, touch-free inductive bathroom water faucets for easy visibility and prevention of bacteria transfer
• Protective outlet covers to prevent injury or shock
• High temperature restrictions on water outlets to prevent burns

Pictured: A patient-centric room designed for comfort.

IQAir and Beijing University Cancer Hospital provide a recovery room that feels like home

The partnership between IQAir and Beijing University Cancer Hospital helps those receiving care and their families recover quickly and stay healthy by breathing the cleanest possible air. The partnership also ensures a productive working environment for top medical scholars, doctors, and staff.

The partnership allows IQAir and its hospital partners to increase quality of services while also providing the comfort many people need to feel welcome and feel better.