The intensity of care necessary to meet the needs of a patient.

Generally unwanted, negative consequences associated with the use of given medications.

The governing body of an organization or corportation that is generally elected by stakeholders to make decisions and policies.

A healing temple sacred to the god Asclepius in ancient Greece.  In the 6th century B.C. an asclepieion intuitively placed patient rooms with an orientation to the sun.

Manmade surroundings where human activity occurs.

Determining the strategies, goals and objectives of the business by translating the current and strategic state in terms of costs and revenues with regard to investments.

Commissioning

The process of outfitting the building with equipment and furniture not included as built-in features during construction.

The believable and convincing study of a subject or topic to discover new information and understanding through reliable and defendable sources.

The process of basing decisions about the built environment on credible research to achieve the best possible outcomes.

The understanding that the experience that one has in a healthcare delivery system is a function of six components:

• physical environment
• layout/operations
• systems
• people
• concepts
• implementation

Provides a safety evaluation tool when reviewing emerging project design documents.

The study of genes and their implementation in the development of healthcare products and services.

A type of managed care that provides healthcare coverage; most require a primary care physician.

Refers to all facilities and services that provide healthcare.

An infection acquired in the hospital by a patient who was admitted for a reason other than that infection.  This includes infections acquired in the hospital but appearing after discharge and also occupational infections among staff of the facility.

Refers to any personal care or assistance that an individual might receive on a long-term basis because of a disabilty or chronic illness that limits his or her ability to function.

An individual or group insurance plan that includes health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs).

A quantitative, statistical analysis of experiments or studies that analyzes the collective data for statistical meaning.

Represents the act of moving to full funtional residency in a new facility or space.

Begins with post-occupancy EBD evaluations and represents the routine maintenance and repair activities necessary to keep the building in good working order over the life of the building.

The target goals for a healthcare organization, many being linked to the built environment.

Also referred to as ambulatory care.  Constitutes diagnostic and therapeutic services and treatments provided to the walking (ambulatory) patient and do not constitute and overnight stay.

The person seeking healthcare service in the healthcare industry.

Refers to a method to foster quality performance by providing pay incentives or bonuses for quality work.

A scholarly periodical that requires each article submitted for publication to be judged by an independent panel of experts.

Specifies particular materials or designs that a building must include to achieve a targeted performance level.

Refers to the external, tangible surroundings that can influence behavior and development.

An organization providing health insurance coverage that encourages participants to visit certain physicians, laboratories, and hospitals at a decreased fee.

Coordinates with delivery of health services between the patient and various delivery components, which includes both preventative adn curative, over a period of time to coordinate all the care the patient receives.  Regarded as essential healthcare. 

A set method of doing something involving steps or operations that are ordered.

An American Institute of Architects guideline updated every four years that reflects a number of EBD features.  Programming, along with research, helps determine the number and size of rooms to support the described concept of operations for each area in the hospital.

A detailed concept of operations for each clinical or administrative area.

Quantitative, comparative, controlled experiments in which researchers study two or more interventions in a series of persons who receive them in a random order.

The systematic investigation and study of a topic or idea, based on empirical data, aimed at gaining knowledge, making discoveries, testing new theories, and applying the new knowledge.

A framework that represents the common tool used by CFOs to financially evaluate major investment decisions in terms of cost and revenue.

Refers to the interrelation between social and technical aspects of an organization, usually based on designing different kinds of organizations where the relationship between socio and technical elements lead to the emergence of productivity and well-being.

Those with a vested interest in a project or those involved at the implementation of the project that care about its success.

A top-down approach concerned with the mission and long-term objectives of an organization.

An additional phase in the facility life-cycle model that ensures that all the necessary steps are planned and implemented to successfully move the organization from its present state to the envisioned future.

Healthcare coverage that is extended to residents of a governmental region.

In EBD, those whom the physical environment was created for (including patients, staff, families and others).

The process of developing, identifying, and documenting the values of an organization or project through a written vision statement.