Designing Behavioral Health Spaces to Improve Patient Outcomes

HOK’s LinkedIn Live event explored how healthcare outcomes can be improved for patients who come to a hospital’s emergency department while experiencing a mental health crisis. Over the past 15 years, the percentage of patients who arrive in emergency departments due to behavioral health issues such as mental illness or substance abuse has doubled, rising from 7% in 2007 to 14%. This increase is straining a healthcare system that’s already under pressure and exacerbating staffing challenges. There is a critical need for behavioral healthcare settings where individuals who are experiencing mental health crises can receive safe and effective care.

The moderator for this discussion was Heather Livingston, COO & managing editor of the Facility Guidelines Institute. These guidelines provide minimum standards for planning, designing and constructing hospitals, outpatient facilities and residential care facilities.
Joining Heather were:
Virginia Pankey, a principal and senior medical planner with a focus on behavioral health at HOK.
Scott Zeller, MD, an emergency psychiatrist and vice president at Vituity.
Both Virginia and Scott are members of FGI’s 2026 Health Guidelines Revision Committee.

Learn more:
https://www.hok.com/projects/market/healthcare/behavioral-health/
Heather: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-livingston-7675976/
Virginia: https://www.hok.com/people/leadership/view/virginia-pankey/
Scott: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-zeller-md-2467aba/

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