520
Detailed Needs and Requirements: Psychiatric Unit
525.2.1
FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The psychiatric unit should have direct access to the outdoors and be
convenient to physical, occupational and recreational facilities. In
addition, immediate proximity to the psychiatric outpatient department may
be desirable.
Access to the unit for visitors should be simple and direct.
Orientation within the unit should be as obvious as possible. There should
be no unusual configuration, patterns, areas of glare, or excessive length
of corridor to cause loss of orientation. Similarly, the treatment of floors,
walls and ceilings should respond to the need to de-emphasize or
reinforce awareness of the environment as may be desirable. Patients
should be helped to familiarize themselves rapidly with the general layout
of the unit and the hospital.
Sources of noise, such as kitchens and workshops, should be kept away
from sleeping quarters and other areas where quiet is required.
Some control of patient movement into and out of the psychiatric unit is
generally required. In some cases visual control of points of access and
egress is sufficient; however, it should be possible to lock each psychiatric
unit. (See Figure 520-8).
525.2.2
Space Requirements
1. Patient Room
Patient groupings are significant in terms of patient care
interrelationships. Two-bed rooms may, in some cases, stimulate
strong patient reactions. Three-bed rooms may tend to lead to
ambiguous situations where the drawing together of two patients
makes the third feel rejected. Many patients fare best in four-bed
units.
Multiple bedrooms, preferably, should be so arranged that there is a
degree of privacy for each patient. Each individual's space should be
appropriately defined and conducive to personal activities such as
reading, writing, conversation, entertaining visitors, and sleeping.
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