Wood materials aid in patient recovery in healthcare environments

The report, “Wood as a Restorative Material in Healthcare Environments,” by FP Innovations, a Canadian research organization, says that wood used as a building material in healthcare settings can have benefits for patients.

It examines the phenomenon of biophilia—or the effect of natural elements on human behavior—in healthcare buildings. The theory is that natural materials can have a positive impact on patient recovery by tapping into human’s affinity for life and life-like processes.

Specifically, the report links wood materials to improved results in:

Better patient recovery times
Lower pain perception
More positive disposition
Lower stress levels and a greater ability to focus for visitors and practitioners

The report adds that more use of wood in healthcare facilities enhances the mood of healthcare providers. Wood could be particularly beneficial in adding a biophilia effect to windowless rooms and areas.

Walsh Construction, one of the largest contractors in the city of Chicago and in the United States, is leading the temporary conversion of a portion of the McCormick Place Convention Center into an Alternate Care Facility (ACF) for novel coronavirus patients. Construction on the first 500 beds was completed on April 3.

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