Healing exterior spaces are moving from options to necessities as health systems compete for patients, staff and community good will.
Current studies show that carefully planned gardens, walkways, patios, roof terraces, courtyards and interiors can have a positive effect on a wide variety of users. Conversely, efficient but starkly institutional surroundings can cause stress and are not well-suited to the needs of patients or staff.
...To develop the planning process, Samaritan engaged Macdonald Environmental Planning (MEP), Portland, Ore. Together, Samaritan and MEP developed a process that would define healing environment types and components, involve the various stakeholders at each site, evaluate existing facilities and provide an action plan and budget to implement planning and design.
A particularly attractive aspect of the strategy was that it would help Samaritan prioritize the projects so that it could accomplish them over a period of years, as funding became available. The result was dubbed the 'Samaritan Health Services Healing Environments Master Plan.' "
Thanks to ArchNewsNow
FULL STORY: Great outdoors

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

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Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
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HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
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