Designing Environments that Heal Part 1: Healing
Published September 13, 2016
Lorissa MacAllister PhD, AIA, LEED AP, NCARB, EDAC, President, Enviah and Susan Mazer PhD, President, Healing Healthcare Systems
Healing and curing are related, but they are not the same. This series investigates the design of environments that heal. An introduction to the art of healing, health, care, and the environment will be followed by an examination of previous literature in the fields of environmental psychology, environmental design, and evidence-based design. The concept of the Optimal Healing Environment will be introduced and various case studies will be discussed.
*This webinar is part 1 of 3 of the Webinar Series on the Environments of Care.
Related content
-
Environment & Hospitality
Volunteer Services and Patient Experience: Two Halves of the Same Goal
Published May 8, 2024
Improving the patient experience has always been a primary reason for volunteers to serve in healthcare settings. Working in partnership with PX can and should be seamless since we share the same end goal. The collaboration between PX and Volunteer Engagement can often lead to solutions for patients and families when challenges arise. Special Interest
Learn more -
Environment & Hospitality | Patient Family & Community Engagement
Reimagining the Non-Clinical Patient and Family Environment
Published January 22, 2024

So much of healthcare journeys focus on precise treatment protocol to address a medical issue, and clinical experiences are oftentimes the only area of interest. But what happens when you prioritize non-clinical experiences within a hospital setting? This is what St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital set out to do when developing Family Commons, a new
Learn more -
Environment & Hospitality
Where Do We Go From Here? Improving Hospital Wayfinding to Reduce Stress and Improve Care
Published March 24, 2026
For patients and families, getting lost in a hospital can feel overwhelming and it often shapes their perception of care before a single clinical interaction occurs. Wayfinding is more than signage; it’s a human-centered experience that affects safety, efficiency, and trust. Join this webinar to discover how thoughtful, patient-centered wayfinding can transform the hospital experience.
Learn more