“There is a complex working

relationship between the senses,

emotions, and immune system.

Studies show hospital patients with a

view of nature heal faster than those

without. What you see, hear, smell,

touch and do in a place can help

heal and prevent disease – or the

opposite – can stress you and make

you ill.”

-Dr. Esther Sternberg, M.D,, Professor of

Medicine

Healthcare workers benefit from a healthier environment.

The relationship between the health worker, work and the workplace environment is very crucial. A study published in Occupational Medicine & Health Affairs highlights that an unsafe health facility environment - such as poorly designed workstations and spaces, lack of ventilation, excessive noise, inappropriate lighting and poor fire safety measures, can adversely affect employee productivity and may expose employees to disease

The Healthcare sector has a tremendous opportunity to utilize WELL as a tool to support the health, safety and well-being of patients, visitors and staff.

Healthcare institutions, from hospitals and clinics to rehab centers and senior living facilities, are the foundation of our communities.

But for many, healthcare settings can be intimidating and overwhelming. Decades of research supports the growing demand for re-humanizing healthcare environments to support the health and well-being of patients, visitors and staff.

Biophilic designs and indoor air and light modifications in hospitals can help reduce stress, mitigate pain and improve patient outcomes.1

1: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40410-018-0077-5

Bui ldings, Organizations and Communit ies

WELL: Advancing Health Through Better

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation, with the mission to transform health and well-being in buildings, organizations around the world. In 2014, IWBI launched the

WELL Building Standard, the leading tool for advancing health and well-being in buildings, communities and organizations, globally.

What is IWBI?

What is theWELL Building

Standard?

Organizations can implement holistic health and well-being strategies across10 concepts:

Air Water Nourishment Light Movement ThermalComfort

Sound Materials Mind Community

These strategies promote and protect our physical and mental health, supporting things like indoor air and water quality and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Healthcare institutions are empowered to pursue the set of strategies that best fit their needs and to create custom plans for incrementally improving all types of buildings and facilities.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Portfolio, WELL Portfolio Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety

Rating, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Workforce, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

Improving Patient Health Outcomes

WELL outlines key building-level interventions and organizational strategies to mitigate burnout. With WELL as a roadmap, healthcare facilities can improve the health and well-being of staff and the overall patient experience.

CARING FOR THE CAREGIVER

Medical professionals are at high risk of burnout due to demanding work environments.

Burnout among nursing staff can lead to an increase in turnover, a decrease in quality of care and threats to patient safety due to medical errors.

According to the National Nursing Engagement Report, 15.6% of nurses report feelings of burnout, with the percentage rising to 41% for nurses classified as ‘unengaged’.

WELL provides healthcare facilities with a set of strategies to help mitigate burnout, including:

• Supporting mental health awareness, screenings, coverage and recovery (M01, M03)

• Enhancing access to nature, both directly and indirectly (M02, M09)

• Offering stress management plans and programs (M05)

• Designing spaces where staff can take a break, relax and feel restored (M07)

According to the Center for Health Information and Analysis, hospital readmissions cost

Medicare about $26 billion annually, with about $17 billion spent on preventable

hospital trips after discharge.

A study on the intersection of design and healthcare found that

some hospital noises disrupt sleep and impact cortical and

cardiovascular function.

Highlights of the Space Include

• Low levels of harmful air pollutants: The interior paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, flooring and furniture have low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• Improved Lighting: Lighting is designed to minimize disruption to the body’s circadian system and to support visual acuity. Workstations contain task lights, under cabinet lighting, dimming controls and reflectors.

• Enhanced workstations: All workstations contain adjustable computer screens and chairs, as well as several sit-stand desks. The HVAC equipment produces a limited amount of sound and artwork inspired by culture, place and nature are placed thoughtfully throughout the suite.

• Clean water: Filtration and regular water testing help to ensure safe levels of turbidity, inorganic contaminants, agricultural contaminants and public water additives.

A post-occupancy survey is issued annually to understand employee satisfaction related to topics such as acoustics, thermal comfort, furnishings, lighting, odors, cleanliness and the overall design.

“It is a pleasure to work in this environment. I think patients

feel good when they enter our space, which is important to our

mission.”

- Tawny Jones, Administrator, Center for Functional Medicine, Cleveland

Clinic

CASE STUDY:Cleveland Clinic

The Center for Functional Medicine Suite at the Cleveland Clinic was awarded WELL Certification at the silver level.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Portfolio, WELL Portfolio Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rating, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Workforce, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

SILVER 2021

“From the artwork to the carpet to the shape of the desks, we thought about how each feature affects a patient or caregiver and worked to incorporate health and wellness into all aspects of the design.”

-Tawny Jones, Administrator for the Center for Functional Medicine

WELL Programs

WELL recognizes health and well-being achievements.

WELL Certification is a holistic program addressing health and well-being that results in the achievement of one of four certification levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum. Once organizations enroll, they pursue comprehensive health-promoting criteria across all 10 concepts in WELL. Certification represents the highest pinnacle of health achievement for an individual facility.

The WELL Health-Safety Rating for Facility Operations and Management is a targeted program addressing health and well-being that results in the achievement of the WELL Health-Safety seal. Once organizations enroll, they pursue a specific sub-set of criteria focused on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address critical health and safety-related issues.

Celebrating the early adopters

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Portfolio, WELL Portfolio Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety

Rating, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Workforce, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

WELL Portfolio: The WELL Portfolio subscription is a cost-effective, streamlined program for organizations interested in pursuing WELL Certification, the WELL Health-Safety Rating or other WELL programs across all of their buildings. When organizations enroll, their progress is tracked with a WELL Portfolio score and report. These indicate their progress towards improving health and well-being at an institutional level and may be used for ESG and relevant reporting.

The first WELL Certified healthcare projects include:

GOLD 2021 GOLD 2021SILVER 2021

Menno Haven Rehabilitation Center

NYU LangoneOne Park Avenue

The Views Senior Living of Marion

We recognize and applaud the important mission-driven work that healthcare institutions are doing around the world. We want to encourage and enable healthcare to implement WELL and we offer special discounted fees for projects.

Accessible Healthcare Sector Pricing

Additional Resources

There are over 30,000 projects pursuing WELL programs across approximately 2.9 billion square feet in 98 countries. There are over 19,500 professionals expanding their expertise with the WELL AP credential in 112 countries.

Emerging Issues

• The Growing Health and Economic Crisis of Chronic

Conditions in the U.S.

• Nursing Burnout Continues to Rise

• Hospital Nurse Burnout: A Continuing Problem

• Nurses in Four States Strike to Push for Better Patient Care

Leading by Example

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL Portfolio, WELL Portfolio Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety

Rating, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Workforce, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.

35% discount

on all WELL feesfor Healthcare

projects.

Precertified Projects

• EMD Serono/Merck Research Facility

Certified Projects

• Cigna

• Cleveland Clinic

• NYU Langone

• Zulekah Hospital

Registered Projects

• Catholic University – Conway School of Nursing

• Centro de Cuidados Palivativos

• Hospital Oncopediátrico Erasto Gaertner Erastinho

• Minos Health Lohas Care Center

• UVA Student Health and Wellness Center

• Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

• Wyvern Private Hospital

WELL Delivers Prevention in Healthcare

• Preventative Health Care Helps Everyone

• Applying the Benefits of Biophilic Theory to Hospital Design

Leading by Example

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