Department of Health

On the ward

This section of the Hospital Environmental Audit Tool (HEAT) contains modules that look at how the environment in the ward spaces of a hospital meet older people’s needs and enable them to participate in their care.

There are five modules in this section:

  • Rooms and bed bays
  • Bathroom
  • Communal spaces
  • Lighting, signage and wayfinding
  • Furniture, equipment and handrails

Most suggestions arising from these audits would take some budget and/or timeframe to implement. Several modules have a version that contains ideas that can be implemented with little or no budget and a short timeframe. These can be found in the section: On the ward - limited resources.

The modules in this section are each expected to take between 20 minutes and 30 minutes to complete. The audit modules may be completed individually or as part of a broader audit of the ward or other parts of the facility. The modules are not designed to be used for major refurbishments or new builds.

On the ward: Rooms and bed bays

Examine how the environment in rooms and bed bays can be enhanced to optimise patients’ orientation, safety and comfort.

On the ward: Bathroom

This audit module is designed to be used for all bathrooms on a ward. It can be used for bathrooms with both a shower and a toilet, or one or the other.

On the ward: Communal spaces

Use this module to audit the communal spaces in a ward - the ward entrance, hallway areas, any shared spaces and wayfinding around the ward.

On the ward: Lighting, signage and wayfinding

This audit module is designed to look at ways to optimise lighting, signage and wayfinding in a ward, for patient safety, orientation, ability to navigate and comfort.

On the ward: Furniture, equipment and handrails

This module looks at how furniture, equipment and handrails in a hospital ward can be utilised to maximise patient safety and comfort.

Reviewed 28 March 2018

Health.vic

In this section

More information

Contact details

Older People in Hospital Department of Health

opih@dhhs.vic.gov.au
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