The Architecture of Healing

About The Architecture of Healing

The Architecture of Healing explores how thoughtful design, strategic planning, and clinical insight come together to shape the future of healthcare. Through conversations with architects, clinicians, executives, and innovators, this podcast connects healthcare strategy to design thinking — uncovering how environments and systems can truly support healing for patients and care teams alike.

Publisher

Chase Miller

Category

arts · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Oct 2025

Latest episode

9 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

18 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Sept 2026

   Designing Safer Hospitals Before They're Built, How Simulation Can Transform Healthcare Design

   What if we could identify hospital safety risks before the walls are ever built? In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, Chase Miller talks with Dr. Nora Coleman, a pediatric critical care physician at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta whose work connects clinical care, simulation, patient safety, and healthcare design. Dr. Coleman shares how simulation was used during the design of the new Arthur M. Blank Hospital to test workflows, uncover safety risks, and understand how clinicians interact with space before construction was complete. Key Takeaways Simulation can test the performance of a healthcare environment, not just the people working in it. Full-scale mock-ups can reveal safety risks and workflow problems that are difficult to identify in meetings or drawings. Design decisions should be evaluated based on risk, efficiency, and patient safety, not just preference. Larger healthcare facilities can significantly affect staffing, travel distances, supply access, and operations. Clinical care, technology, staffing, operations, and the built environment need to be planned together. Why This Matters Healthcare spaces actively influence how care is delivered. Decisions about room layout, equipment, supplies, travel distances, and support systems can either make care easier and safer or create additional work and risk for staff. Testing those decisions before construction gives healthcare teams an opportunity to identify problems while they can still be changed. Resources Mentioned Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M. Blank Hospital - Arthur M. Blank Hospital | Children's Healthcare of Atlanta The Center for Health Design - chd | The Center for Health Design Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design - Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design Women in Healthcare - Promoting the Professional Development of Women in the Healthcare Industry - Women in Healthcare Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) - What is FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis)? | IBM About the Guest Dr. Nora Coleman is a pediatric critical care physician at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Her work focuses on simulation, patient safety, human factors, healthcare operations, and the relationship between clinical care and the built environment. Connect with Nora Coleman: Nora Colman | LinkedIn About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores how healthcare environments can better support the people who give and receive care. Learn more: https://TheArchitectureofHealing.com Connect with Chase H. Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/ Subscribe to The Architecture of Healing for more conversations about creating safer, more human-centered healthcare environments.

2. 

   5 Aug 2026

   Architecture as Advocacy: Designing for Wellbeing, Experience, and Better Outcomes

   What if healthcare architecture could support healing, shape behavior, and give patients and staff greater dignity and control? Chase Miller speaks with Angela Mazzi, a board-certified healthcare architect, principal at GBBN Architects, and host of the Architecting podcast. They explore salutogenic design, human factors, user engagement, and how healthcare environments can either reinforce hierarchy or create more equitable and supportive experiences. In This Episode Designing for health, dignity, and well-being Why every design is a hypothesis Involving patients, families, and staff early Using human factors to improve clinical workflows Testing ideas through mock-ups and post-occupancy evaluation Breaking down hierarchy through design Supporting emerging professionals through mentorship Key Takeaways A space influences how people feel, behave, work, and heal, affecting performance and outcomes. Mock-ups, simulations, and post-occupancy reviews reveal whether a design works as intended. Patients, families, and frontline staff help teams identify the right problems to solve. Experience should inform better questions without limiting new ideas. Design can either restrict autonomy or help patients and staff feel respected and supported. Natural light, gardens, and views of nature can improve orientation, attention, and focus. Professional involvement builds leadership, advocacy, mentorship, and expertise. Resources Mentioned Architecting podcast (https://architectingpodcast.com/) Time Builder by Angela Mazzi (https://architectingpodcast.com/) Choice Architecture by Avani Parikh and Prashant Parikh American College of Healthcare Architects AIA Academy of Architecture for Health Salutogenic design Human factors Evidence-based design Attention restoration theory Gemba walks Mock-ups, simulations, and post-occupancy evaluation Planetree "The Intersection of Human Factors and Evidence-Based Healthcare Design: A Conceptual Framework" HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal About Angela Mazzi Angela Mazzi is a board-certified healthcare architect and principal at GBBN Architects. Her work focuses on salutogenic design, human factors, and the relationship between the built environment, behavior, and well-being. She also hosts the Architecting podcast (https://architectingpodcast.com/), which helps design professionals challenge conventional thinking and define success on their own terms. About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores how healthcare environments, operational systems, and human experiences intersect to shape healing. Hosted by Chase Miller, the podcast features conversations with designers, clinicians, strategists, and healthcare leaders working to transform the future of care. Learn more about the podcast or explore all episodes.

3. 

   22 Jul 2026

   The COO's Playbook for People-Centered Healthcare Operations

   How do healthcare leaders turn strategy into meaningful action across a complex academic medical center? In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, Chase Miller speaks with Juan Guzman, Chief Operating Officer of Wellstar Medical College of Georgia Medical Center. Juan oversees operations across the adult academic medical center, Wellstar Golisano Children's Hospital of Georgia, the Georgia Cancer Center, and a broad ambulatory network throughout the Central Savannah River Area. Juan shares a practical, people-centered approach to healthcare operations, one grounded in listening, leader rounding, disciplined follow-through, and a clear connection between the team-member experience and the patient experience. The conversation explores operational management systems, access and affordability, ambulatory growth, care closer to home, capital planning, facility decisions, artificial intelligence, and the social factors that increasingly shape patient outcomes. Throughout the episode, Juan returns to a central idea: operational excellence is not simply about metrics. It is about developing people, removing friction, building trust, and creating the conditions for better care. Key Takeaways • Healthcare operations must connect long-term strategy with the realities of daily care delivery. • A strong team-member experience creates the foundation for a better patient experience. • Leader rounding only builds trust when listening is followed by visible action. • Access will remain one of healthcare's most important challenges. Patients need care that is geographically convenient, affordable, and available when they need it. • Hospitals will increasingly focus on higher-acuity tertiary and quaternary care, while more routine services move into ambulatory, digital, and home-based settings. • Healthcare facilities should be planned around patient and staff flow, not simply around whichever space happens to be available. • Capital planning requires listening, financial stewardship, and pressure-testing decisions to avoid expensive unintended consequences. • Healthcare leaders should look beyond their own organizations, benchmark with peers, and learn from what others are doing well. • AI may improve efficiency, but it cannot replace the human connection at the center of healthcare. • Better health outcomes will require greater alignment among health systems, payers, pharmaceutical companies, community organizations, and social-service providers. Why This Matters Healthcare leaders are being asked to improve access, affordability, experience, quality, and efficiency at the same time, often within aging facilities and under significant resource constraints. Juan's perspective reminds us that successful transformation begins with understanding how people actually experience the system. Strategy, operations, technology, and the built environment must work together to support patients, clinicians, and frontline teams. For healthcare executives, planners, architects, designers, and strategists, this episode offers a clear challenge: listen closely, design intentionally, and make decisions that help care happen with less friction. Resources Mentioned • The First 90 Days by Michael D. Watkins • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown • The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson • The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi and Fumitake Koga About the Guest Juan Guzman is Chief Operating Officer of Wellstar Medical College of Georgia Medical Center. His responsibilities include the adult academic medical center, Wellstar Golisano Children's Hospital of Georgia, the Georgia Cancer Center, and approximately 80 outpatient locations across the Central Savannah River Area. Juan is a healthcare operations leader focused on connecting strategy with execution, developing teams, strengthening access, improving patient and staff experiences, and creating systems that support high-quality care. Connect with Juan Juan Guzman | LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/juanguzman91/) About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores how thoughtful strategy, smart operations, purposeful design, and the built environment can create better healthcare experiences for patients, caregivers, and communities. Learn more: https://thearchitectureofhealing.com Connect with host Chase Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/

4. 

   20 May 2026

   Beyond the Birth Plan: Resilience in Healthcare's Most Human Moments

   What does healthcare feel like from the perspective of the birth partner? In this deeply personal episode of The Architecture of Healing, Adrian Erdman flips the script and interviews host Chase Miller about his experiences navigating childbirth alongside his wife through three high-risk pregnancies. Together, they unpack the emotional, operational, and environmental realities of maternity care, from emergency C-sections and preeclampsia to communication breakdowns, caregiver advocacy, and the hidden impact of healthcare design on families. Chase shares vulnerable reflections on helplessness, stress, advocacy, and the role of the birth partner within complex clinical environments. The conversation explores how operational workflows, room layouts, staff communication, and healthcare systems directly shape patient and family experiences, and why empathy-centered design matters more than ever. This episode offers valuable insights for healthcare leaders, architects, clinicians, designers, and anyone interested in creating more resilient and human-centered care environments. Key Takeaways The birth partner often becomes an advocate, translator, and emotional support system during labor and delivery. Operational breakdowns and communication gaps can significantly increase stress for patients and families. Healthcare environments can either reduce or amplify emotional and cognitive overload. Designing for resilience means accounting for atypical patient needs not just standard workflows. Staff burnout and operational pressures directly affect patient experiences. Family-centered maternity spaces should consider the needs of partners, siblings, and support systems. Trust and continuity of care can outweigh difficult healthcare experiences when outcomes and relationships are meaningful. Empathy-driven design requires thinking beyond efficiency to understand the emotional impact of healthcare spaces. Why This Matters Birth experiences are among the most emotionally significant healthcare interactions people will ever have. Yet many healthcare systems and care environments are still designed primarily around operational efficiency rather than emotional resilience. This conversation highlights how healthcare design, workflows, communication systems, and staffing models affect not only clinical outcomes, but also the lived experiences of patients, partners, and families. By understanding these human experiences more deeply, healthcare leaders and designers can create spaces and systems that better support healing, dignity, trust, and connection. Resources & Mentions Linchpin by Seth Godin - https://www.amazon.com/Linchpin-Are-Indispensable-Seth-Godin/dp/1591844096 How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie  - https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034 Topics Discussed IVF journeys Preeclampsia & HELLP Syndrome C-section experiences Birth partner advocacy Healthcare operations & workflow design Human-centered healthcare environments Cognitive overload in healthcare settings Family-centered maternity care About the Guest Adrienne Erdman Adrienne Erdman is a healthcare designer and researcher focused on understanding how healthcare environments shape human experiences, emotions, and outcomes. Her work explores the intersection of design, operations, and empathy in healthcare spaces, with a particular emphasis on maternity care and human-centered environments. Connect with Adrienne Erdman: Adrienne Erdman LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienneerdman/) About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores how healthcare environments, operational systems, and human experiences intersect to shape healing. Through conversations with designers, clinicians, strategists, and healthcare leaders, the podcast examines how thoughtful design and empathy-driven decision-making can transform the future of care. Learn meore at: The Architecture of Healing (https://thearchitectureofhealing.com) Connect with host Chase Miller: Chase Miller LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller)

5. 

   29 Apr 2026

   The Universal Patient Room: Designing for Acuity, Agility, and the Future of Care Delivery

   In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, we explore the evolution of the hospital patient room, from early communal wards to today's highly specialized environments and why the traditional model is no longer keeping pace with modern care. As patient needs become more complex and less predictable, the long-standing approach of moving patients between rooms and units is creating friction, delays, and risk. This episode dives into the concept of the universal patient room, a design and operational strategy that allows care to come to the patient instead of moving the patient through the system. More than a design trend, the universal patient room represents a shift in how healthcare systems think about flexibility, capability, and alignment under pressure. Key Takeaways The traditional patient room model is breaking down Healthcare has long relied on moving patients as their conditions change, but increasing complexity and variability are exposing the limits of this approach. Patient rooms reflect healthcare priorities From containment (wards) to control (private rooms) to experience (human-centered design), room design mirrors how healthcare defines care. The universal patient room embeds flexibility into the environment Instead of transferring patients, the room adapts to changing acuity levels, bringing care to the patient. Design alone isn't enough, alignment is everything Success depends on integrating design with operations, staffing models, workflows, and technology. Standardization vs. flexibility is a strategic trade-off More flexibility can reduce friction but increases complexity, cost, and expectations for staff. Fewer patient moves = better outcomes Reduced transfers improve continuity, lower infection risk, and enhance both patient and staff experience. This is a systems-level decision, not just a design choice The universal patient room represents an operating model embedded in physical space, not just a room upgrade. Why This Matters Healthcare is entering a new reality: patients are sicker, staffing is constrained, and variability is constant, not occasional. The environments we design must now absorb complexity instead of reacting to it. The universal patient room is one response to this shift, offering a way to align physical space with how care is actually delivered today. But its success depends on clarity: What are you optimizing for? How do your teams operate? Does your environment support or hinder that reality? Ultimately, the patient room is more than a space, it's a signal of what an organization values and how prepared it is for the future of care. Resources Concepts discussed: Universal Patient Room Design Human-Centered Healthcare Design Hospital-at-Home & Remote Monitoring Models Virtual Nursing & AI-Enabled Care Environments About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores the intersection of healthcare design, operations, strategy, and patient experience—challenging conventional thinking and reimagining how environments shape care delivery. 🔗 Learn more: https://www.thearchitecturofhealing.com 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/

6. 

   15 Apr 2026

   Rethinking Healthcare Foodservice: From Cost Center to Strategic Asset

   In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, host Chase Miller sits down with Scott Reitano, founder of Reitano Design Group, to explore the often-overlooked world of healthcare food service design. From patient meals to retail dining and staff amenities, Scott shares how food service is evolving into a critical component of patient outcomes, staff satisfaction, and overall healthcare experience. The conversation dives into the concept of "food as medicine," the role of design in influencing healthier choices, and how hospitals can rethink food service as both a strategic asset and a human-centered experience. This episode challenges traditional thinking and highlights how nutrition, environment, and thoughtful design intersect to shape the future of healthcare. Key Takeaways Food service is more than a necessity, it's a strategic driver of patient experience, staff retention, and brand identity. Healthcare dining has multiple audiences: patients, staff, and visitors, all with different needs and expectations. "Food as medicine" is gaining traction, integrating nutrition directly into care plans and recovery strategies. Design influences behavior: layout, presentation, and accessibility can nudge healthier food choices. Distributed dining and food accessibility are critical in large facilities to improve convenience and experience. Technology (mobile ordering, robotics, smart systems) is reshaping how food is delivered, but should enhance, not replace, human interaction. Flexibility in design is essential to adapt to changing food trends, labor challenges, and future innovations. Food service can extend beyond the hospital stay, supporting patient recovery and long-term health habits at home. Why This Matters Healthcare systems are at a turning point. Food is no longer just about feeding patients, it's about improving outcomes, reducing readmissions, and enhancing quality of life. By rethinking food service as part of the care journey, organizations can: Improve patient recovery and satisfaction Strengthen staff recruitment and retention Build stronger community connections Reinforce their brand as a true "health system" This shift from reactive care to proactive wellness where nutrition plays a central role, could redefine how healthcare is delivered in the years ahead. Resources Mentioned Good to Great by Jim Collins  - https://www.amazon.com/Good-Great-Some-Companies-Others/dp/0066620996 About the Guest Scott Reitano is the founder and owner of Reitano Design Group, a firm specializing in food service design across healthcare, education, and other institutional environments. With over 20 years of experience, Scott focuses on creating spaces that enhance operations, elevate user experience, and connect food with wellness and community. https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-reitano-22a1768/ https://www.reitanodesigngroup.com/ About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores how the built environment shapes health, wellness, and human experience. Through conversations with industry leaders, the podcast uncovers insights at the intersection of design, healthcare, and innovation. Learn more: https://www.thearchitecturofhealing.com/ Connect with Chase Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/

7. 

   1 Apr 2026

   From Benchmarks to Better Decisions: The Evolution of SpaceMed

   In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, Chase Miller sits down with healthcare planning pioneer Cynthia Hayward to explore how data-driven planning, operational strategy, and flexible design shape the future of healthcare environments. With over 40 years of experience, Cynthia shares her passion for pre-design planning, the evolution of healthcare space standards, and the development of her influential SpaceMed Guide. From avoiding costly overbuilding to designing adaptable, patient-centered facilities, this conversation dives deep into the intersection of strategy, operations, and architecture, and why the best solutions often have nothing to do with design at all. Key Takeaways Pre-design planning is critical: Functional space programming should be completed before design begins to avoid scope creep and inefficiencies. Space is driven by operations not wishlists: Effective planning requires analyzing workflows, staffing, and demand, not just user requests. Flexibility is essential: Multi-use spaces, shared resources, and adaptable infrastructure are key to future-ready healthcare facilities. Overbuilding is a major risk: Many healthcare systems invest in unnecessary space due to competition, poor forecasting, or outdated assumptions. Outpatient shift has mixed results: While some services thrive outside hospitals, others have created redundancy and inefficiency. Healthcare challenges are interconnected: Issues like ED overcrowding are often operational and systemic, not just facility problems. Technology continues to reshape space: Telehealth, automation, and imaging advancements are redefining how facilities are planned. Why This Matters Healthcare organizations are making some of the largest capital investments of any industry, yet many projects fail to align with actual operational needs. This episode highlights a crucial mindset shift: Better buildings don't fix broken systems. By focusing on data, workflows, and long-term adaptability, healthcare leaders and designers can: Reduce unnecessary capital spending Improve patient and staff experiences Create facilities that evolve with technology and care models Resources Mentioned SpaceMed Guide (Cynthia Hayward) - https://www.spacemed.com/ Healthcare Facility Planning: Thinking Strategically (Cynthia Hayward) - https://www.ache.org/learning-center/publications/books/2307i Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines - https://fgiguidelines.org/ The Tyranny of Merit by Michael Sandel - https://www.amazon.com/Tyranny-Merit-Whats-Become-Common/dp/0374289980 Press Ganey Patient Experience Reports - https://www.pressganey.com/resources/blog/patient-experience-2025-new-trends/ About the Guest Cynthia Hayward is a leading expert in healthcare facility planning and capital strategy with over four decades of experience. She is the founder of Hayward & Associates and the creator of the SpaceMed Guide, a widely used pre-design planning methodology. Cynthia has worked across the U.S. and Canada, helping healthcare organizations optimize space, reduce costs, and align facilities with evolving care delivery models. About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores how design, strategy, and innovation are transforming healthcare environments. Through conversations with industry leaders, the podcast uncovers insights that shape better outcomes for patients, providers, and communities. Learn more: https://www.thearchitecturofhealing.com/ Connect with Chase Miller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/

8. 

   4 Mar 2026

   5 Must-Haves of a Successful Strategic Healthcare Master Plan

   What if the greatest risk in your next master plan isn't cost overruns, but strategic drift? In this episode, we challenge the conventional approach to healthcare master planning. Instead of starting with towers, bed counts, and square footage, we begin with something more foundational: posture. Because once capital is committed at scale, you're not just building space, you're hardening assumptions about care models, workforce structures, referral flows, and financial resilience for the next 10–20 years. Using the fictional (but very familiar) case of Riverside Health, a three-hospital system navigating tight margins, workforce strain, and accelerating outpatient growth, we walk through five structural requirements that separate facility planning from true strategic master planning. This conversation is for healthcare executives, board members, planners, architects, and strategists making long-term capital decisions in uncertain environments. Master planning isn't about buildings. It's about disciplined commitment under volatility. Key Takeaways 1. Define Campus Role Before You Define Space Every campus must have a clear, forward-looking role, what it concentrates on and what it intentionally does not do. Balance is not strategy. Capital should sharpen differentiation, not preserve legacy politics. 2. Design for the Care Model You're Intentionally Building Projecting current volumes forward is modeling, not direction-setting. Stress test capital plans across multiple demand scenarios (stable, -10%, -20% inpatient). Build flexibility through convertible rooms, universal layouts, and shell space. 3. Integrate Workforce Probability Before Capital Locks In Duplicating high-acuity services across campuses multiplies staffing risk. Require 10-year recruitment probability modeling, attrition sensitivity analysis, and call coverage stress simulations before approving expansion. 4. Sequence Capital for Optionality, Not Momentum Large, visible first phases may feel bold but they reduce flexibility. Stress test phasing against revenue contraction, reimbursement compression, and construction cost escalation. Optionality is structured patience. 5. Embed Governance Architecture That Prevents Drift Most master plans don't fail dramatically, they erode through exception accumulation. Annual role validation, deviation thresholds, and board education are essential to prevent strategic drift, especially through leadership transition. Why This Matters Strategic drift is rarely intentional. It's gradual. Structural. Quiet. It happens when capital reinforces legacy assumptions instead of clarifying future direction. And once concrete is poured, flexibility narrows. Healthcare leaders today face: Volatile reimbursement environments Workforce instability Shifting site-of-care demand Accelerating outpatient migration Leadership turnover cycles A master plan without role clarity, workforce integration, demand stress testing, and governance discipline may still function but it will lack resilience. The real question isn't how bold your next investment looks. It's whether it will still make sense 10 years from now under pressure. Questions to Bring to Your Next Master Planning Discussion Are we reinforcing legacy or committing to strategy? What futures are we unintentionally eliminating? Does workforce probability support this footprint? Can this plan flex under financial stress? Will it survive leadership transition? If these questions slow the room down, that's productive. Resources Mentioned Riverside Health (fictional case study used for analysis) Workforce probability modeling Demand scenario stress testing (±10–20% inpatient sensitivity) Capital phasing stress simulations Governance deviation frameworks About the Guest Chase H. Miller is a healthcare strategist, planner, and architect focused on the intersection of long-term capital planning and organizational strategy. His work challenges health systems to think beyond facilities and toward disciplined strategic clarity, ensuring that capital investments reinforce resilience rather than embed fragility. About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores the intersection of healthcare strategy and the built environment. Each episode challenges leaders to think beyond square footage and toward the structural decisions that shape the future of care. Learn more at: Website:  https://www.thearchitecturofhealing.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/) If this episode sharpened your thinking, share it with a colleague navigating a master plan, and subscribe for future conversations on disciplined strategy in uncertain environments.

9. 

   18 Feb 2026

   Experience ≠ Outcome: Rethinking Birth through Space, Systems, and Research

   In this deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation, Adrienne Erdman shares her journey from biomedical engineering and human factors into architecture and healthcare design. As Director of Design Research at Ewing Cole and Vice President of Research & Development for the Trauma-Informed Design Society, Adrienne brings a systems-thinking, human-centered lens to the built environment. The heart of this episode explores birth as a design challenge, not just clinically, but emotionally and operationally. Adrienne vulnerably shares her own birth experiences, highlighting how small operational breakdowns, sensory overload, and communication gaps can compound into trauma, even when clinical outcomes are positive. We explore her recent national birth experience survey and the powerful "She Said" exhibit, which centers the voices of mothers through immersive storytelling. Together, we examine how healthcare designers can balance safety, personalization, emotional support, and operational efficiency to create spaces that truly honor families at one of life's most pivotal moments. Key Takeaways 40% of surveyed mothers described their birth experience as traumatic even when outcomes were medically "successful." Experience does not equal outcome. Positive clinical results do not guarantee positive emotional impact. Human factors design examines biomechanics, cognition, psychology, sociology, and systems, and applies them to both products and spaces. Designing with people, not for them, builds trust, buy-in, and better outcomes. Maternity spaces often prioritize worst-case medical readiness over physiological normalcy and emotional comfort. Environmental stressors, lighting, noise, temperature, and interruptions significantly shape perception of care. Partner accommodations are frequently overlooked but critical to family-centered care. Access to maternity care remains fragile, especially in rural communities. Prenatal experiences are often inefficient and disruptive, presenting an opportunity for redesign. The future of healthcare must be holistic, integrating lifestyle, environment, nutrition, and lived experience. Why This Matters Birth is one of the only reasons a healthy person enters a hospital. It is a clinical event but also a life milestone, a family origin story, and a deeply vulnerable experience. When design fails to account for emotional context, sensory experience, and operational nuance, trauma can occur even when clinical metrics look good on paper. Healthcare design has the opportunity and responsibility to: Reduce preventable stressors Empower mothers as active participants Support partners and families Balance medical readiness with personalization Address trauma-informed principles in the built environment As maternity services evolve from hospital-based models to birthing centers and expanded midwifery programs, design will play a pivotal role in shaping safer, more dignified, and more human birth experiences. The "She Said" Exhibit "She Said", an immersive audio-visual installation featured at a Toronto colloquium on birth design. Using quotes from nearly 400 U.S. birth survey respondents, layered with video and sound, the exhibit centered maternal voices rather than the clinical environment itself transforming research into emotional storytelling. It represents a powerful example of research translation through design. Rethinking Birth Spaces Design opportunities discussed in this episode include: Reducing sensory overload in labor & delivery and OR environments Designing rooms for physiological birth first with hidden medical readiness Improving partner sleeping accommodations and room layout Allowing personalization and environmental control Supporting movement with tools like birthing balls, ropes, and tubs Creating prenatal clinics that respect patients' time and work lives Resources Mentioned Trauma-Informed Design Society - https://www.tidsociety.com/ "She Said" Birth Experience Survey (2023–2024) The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier - https://a.co/d/0dNFnpBV Becker's Hospital Review (article referenced regarding rural maternity closures) - https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/124-rural-hospitals-closed-labor-and-delivery-in-6-years-analysis/ About the Guest Adrienne Erdman is the Director of Design Research at Ewing Cole, specializing in healthcare, and science and technology environments. With a background in biomedical engineering and human factors, she integrates research, systems thinking, and human-centered design into impactful architectural solutions. She also serves as Vice President of Research & Development for the Trauma-Informed Design Society, advancing evidence-based approaches to trauma-informed design within the built environment. Connect with Adrienne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienneerdman/ About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores how strategy, operations, design, research, and human experience intersect to shape healthcare environments. Through conversations with executives, planners, strategists, architects, clinicians, researchers, and innovators, the show examines how space influences health, dignity, and wellbeing. Learn more at:  www.thearchitecturofhealing.com Connect with Chase Miller on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/) If this episode resonated with you, share it with a colleague, leave a review, and join us in reimagining healthcare environments that truly heal, not just clinically, but holistically.

10. 

    4 Feb 2026

    The EmPATH Unit: Rethinking Crisis Care in the Emergency Department

    Behavioral health crises are overwhelming emergency departments across the country. In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, Chase Miller sits down with Dr. Scott Zeller, a psychiatrist and national leader in crisis care, to explore the origins and impact of the EMPATH Unit, Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing. Drawing from decades on the front lines of emergency psychiatry, Dr. Zeller explains how the right care model and the right environment can stabilize most patients in under 24 hours, reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, improve emergency department flow, and restore dignity to patients on the worst day of their lives. Key Topics The rise of boarding in emergency departments What EMPATH units are and how they function in practice The role of environment and design in de-escalation and healing Emergency department throughput and operational efficiency Staffing models and clinician experience in crisis care Rural vs. urban scalability of EMPATH units Financial and reimbursement considerations Key Takeaways Psychiatric emergency care is primarily a care model and environment problem, not just a bed shortage 75–80% of patients initially thought to need inpatient admission can stabilize within 24 hours in an EMPATH unit Therapeutic design reduces agitation, improves safety, and accelerates recovery EMPATH units improve ED flow while creating a better experience for staff and patients This model delivers better outcomes at a fraction of the cost of traditional alternatives Why This Matters If you work in healthcare leadership, emergency medicine, behavioral health, architecture, planning, operations, or if you care about how hospitals respond to people in crisis, this episode will fundamentally change how you think about emergency psychiatric care. Resources & Links EMPATH Unit overview and implementation guidance - https://fgiguidelines.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FGI-Design-of-BHCUs_2022-06.pdf Federal and Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Podcast - https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/e5-behavioral-health-crisis-units-scott-zeller/ Alameda Model - https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3935789/ Angle of Repose - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/292408.Angle_of_Repose https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8850530/ EmPATH Summit - https://web.cvent.com/event/c9b818d9-d9af-4e75-bdbf-8edaa2d6f6e0/websitePage:0b77ccc9-e9f0-48f7-9010-45c9759b9324 About the Guest Dr. Scott Zeller is a nationally recognized psychiatrist and leader in emergency and crisis psychiatric care, best known for pioneering the EMPATH Unit model—Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing. With decades of experience on the front lines, including more than 20 years as Medical Director of Psychiatric Emergency Services in Alameda County, California, he has helped reshape how hospitals address behavioral health crises by aligning care models, environment, and rapid intervention to improve outcomes, reduce ED boarding, and restore dignity to patients in crisis. Connect with Dr. Zeller - LinkedIn Vituity -https://www.vituity.com/who-we-are/leadership/scott-zeller/ About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores the intersection of healthcare strategy, design, operations, and experience—examining how environments, systems, and decisions shape care delivery and healing. www.thearchitectureofhealing.com Connect with Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/

11. 

    21 Jan 2026

    Designing for the Shift: ASCs, Policy, and the End of the Inpatient-Only List

    In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, Chase shares the "why" behind the podcast and explores one of the most significant shifts in healthcare today: the rise of ambulatory surgery centers and the policy changes accelerating care out of the hospital. From the origins of ASCs to the 2026 CMS rule and the phased removal of the inpatient-only list, this episode breaks down how regulation, reimbursement, and strategy are reshaping where surgery happens and what that means for hospitals, outpatient facilities, and the built environment. A systems-level look at designing for flexibility, value, and the future of care. Key Themes & Takeaways ·         ·  Why The Architecture of Healing exists ·         ·  The evolution of ambulatory surgery centers ·         ·  The 2026 CMS rule and the inpatient-only list ·         ·  Impacts on hospitals, ASCs, and surgical strategy ·         ·  Designing flexible environments for shifting care delivery Episode Resources ·         CMS 2026 Final Rule overview and inpatient-only list updates - https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/fy-2026-ipps-final-rule-home-page ·         Historical background on ambulatory surgery centers and outpatient surgical care - https://www.ascassociation.org/advancingsurgicalcare/asc/historyofascs ·         Articles and research on site-of-care shifts and outpatient surgery growth - https://ascnews.com/2025/12/asc-final-rule-outpatient-surgery-shift-continues-to-spark-concerns-over-medicare-access-to-post-acute-care/ ·         Planning and design resources related to ASC and hospital co-location strategies - https://www.beckersasc.com/asc-transactions-and-valuation-issues/the-perfect-storm-for-asc-expansion-is-coming/ Connect & Continue the Conversation Visit thearchitectureofhealing.com for more episodes, insights, and resources on shaping the future of healthcare through strategy, design, and operations. Follow The Architecture of Healing on: Website → thearchitectureofhealing.com YouTube → @TheArchitectureofHealing LinkedIn → @TheArchitectureofHealing

12. 

    7 Jan 2026

    Capital Strategy in Healthcare: Solving the Right Problem

    Healthcare organizations spend millions—sometimes billions—on capital projects intended to improve care. Yet too often, those investments address symptoms rather than root causes. In this episode, Chase Miller sits down with Bill Hercules to explore how healthcare capital strategy, finance, and design intersect—and why architects must learn to think like executives if they want to influence real outcomes. With decades of experience across healthcare architecture, executive leadership, and professional advocacy, Bill offers a rare systems-level perspective on how hospitals make decisions, how capital really flows, and why understanding finance is essential to designing environments that truly support care. Key Topics Covered ·         Why healthcare organizations frequently solve the wrong problem with expensive buildings ·         The difference between capital strategy and capital reaction ·         How CEOs and CFOs evaluate healthcare design investments ·         Why "form follows finance" is often more accurate than architects want to admit ·         The hidden risks of expanding emergency departments instead of fixing operations ·         How functional programming reveals the real purpose of a project ·         Translating evidence-based design into a business case executives understand ·         The limits of codes and guidelines in delivering healing outcomes ·         The ethical implications of ignoring design research ·         How competition, deregulation, and data are reshaping healthcare planning ·         Why healthcare buildings are tools—not the mission itself Key Takeaways ·         Capital strategy is diagnostic, not reactive. Expensive expansions often mask operational failures rather than fix them. ·         Healthcare executives think in systems, not spaces. Architects who understand finance, operations, and incentives earn credibility. ·         Evidence-based design only matters if it can be translated into value. Research without financial context rarely drives decisions. ·         Functional programming is one of the most powerful—and underused—tools in healthcare design. ·         Healthcare organizations are not in the building business—they're in the care business. Architecture succeeds only when it supports that mission. ·         Solving the right problem matters more than designing the perfect solution. Notable Quotes ·         "Healthcare systems are not in the building business—they're in the care business." ·         "If you don't understand the financial drivers, you'll lose the conversation every time." ·         "Expanding the ED is often a symptom-based response to an operational disease." Resources & Concepts Mentioned Ken Cates Functional Programming Podcast - https://fgiguidelines.org/podcast/e2-the-functional-program-ken-cates/ The Center for Health Design - https://www.healthdesign.org/ The Center for Health Design Knowledge Repository –  https://www.healthdesign.org/knowledge-repository Form Follows Finance – https://www.amazon.com/Form-Follows-Finance-Skyscrapers-Skylines/dp/1568980442 The Bible The World Health Organization - https://www.who.int/ About the Guest Bill Hercules is a rare triple-Fellow of the AIA, ACHA, and the American College of Healthcare Executives. With more than three decades of experience, Bill helps healthcare organizations align capital investment, operational strategy, and design excellence to improve long-term outcomes. Connect with Bill – https://www.linkedin.com/in/billhercules WJH Health - https://www.wjh-health.com/ About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores the intersection of healthcare strategy, design, operations, and experience—examining how environments, systems, and decisions shape care delivery and healing. www.thearchitectureofhealing.com Connect with Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/

13. 

    17 Dec 2025

    Designing for the Possible: Human Factors, Innovation, and Data

    Healthcare innovation is moving faster than ever, but speed doesn't always equal progress. In this episode, Chase Miller sits down with Erica Parker, a human factors leader whose career spans healthcare architecture, product design, and enterprise innovation at Memorial Sloan Kettering and MD Anderson. Together, they explore how human factors and human-centered design help healthcare organizations evaluate emerging technologies, reduce risk, and implement AI in ways that truly improve patient and staff experience. This conversation challenges the assumption that more technology is always better, and offers a grounded framework for leaders navigating the future of healthcare innovation. Key Topics Covered What human factors really means in healthcare—and why it's often misunderstood Lessons from speculative design and the Breaking Through competition Why many "innovative" healthcare technologies fail to scale The difference between radical, disruptive, incremental, and adjacent innovation How AI can unintentionally increase cognitive load and operational risk Why education, staffing, and workflow readiness matter as much as technology Governance, intake, and lifecycle management of AI in healthcare systems Evaluating vendors, pilots, and emerging tools responsibly The risks of automating human connection out of healthcare Why ambient listening, AI agents, and automation require clearer expectations The future of healthcare data—and what patient ownership could unlock Key Takeaways Just because a technology can do something doesn't mean it should—especially in high-reliability healthcare environments. Human factors bridges the gap between innovation and safe, effective implementation. Constraints drive better innovation—incremental improvements often create the greatest day-to-day impact. AI must be evaluated at a systems level, not as isolated tools. Education gaps can undermine even the best-designed technology. Healthcare's future depends on governance, readiness, and trust—not hype. Memorable Quotes "Just because the technology can do something doesn't mean that's the right direction to go." "Innovation isn't about shiny tools—it's about improving safety, performance, and satisfaction." "Sometimes the problem isn't the product. It's education." "The future of healthcare is data—and eventually, patients will own it." About the Guest Erica is a human factors leader with a background in healthcare architecture, product design, and enterprise innovation. She has worked at Perkins Eastman, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and currently supports AI, operational intelligence, and human-technology interaction at MD Anderson, focusing on safety, performance, and scalable innovation. Connect with Erica - https://www.linkedin.com/in/elparchitecture/ Breaking Through Competition - Aroma Breaking Through Competition - G.I.S.M.O. About the Podcast The Architecture of Healing explores the intersection of healthcare strategy, design, operations, and experience—examining how environments, systems, and decisions shape care delivery and healing. www.thearchitectureofhealing.com Connect with Chase - htt114ps://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/

14. 

    3 Dec 2025

    Designing for Our Future Selves: If You Value It - You Evaluate It

    In this thought-provoking episode, host Chase Miller welcomes Dr. Addie Abushousheh, a designer, researcher, and environmental gerontologist whose research sits at the intersection of neuroscience, organizational development, and healthcare design. Together, they unpack how environments act not merely as backdrops for care, but as active participants in the healing process. From her unconventional career path and early work in traumatic brain injury units to her leadership within the Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI), Addie shares how evidence-based, human-centered environments can empower both patients and caregivers. Her insights challenge conventional thinking about architecture, healthcare operations, and what it truly means to design for "our future selves." Key Themes & Takeaways 1. The Environment as a Therapeutic Tool Spaces aren't neutral, they can either enable or disable human potential. Addie's work in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation revealed that intuitive design cues like contrast, lighting, and layout can reduce dependency on staff and improve independence. "When the environment functions like a prosthetic, it restores ability rather than reminding people of their limitations." 2. The "Competence-Press Model" and the Zone of Adaptation Derived from Powell Lawton's environmental gerontology research, this model describes the relationship between a person's capability and the complexity of their environment. The sweet spot, the zone of adaptation is where people perform and heal best. Too much simplicity can disable capable individuals; too much complexity can overwhelm the vulnerable. 3. Rethinking Age-Friendly Health Systems CMS's "Four Ms" framework; mentation, medication, mobility, and what matters most guides age-friendly healthcare. Addie argues for a fifth "M": multi-complexity, acknowledging the layered needs of aging populations. Despite strong evidence from environmental research, the built environment is still missing from these national quality frameworks. 4. Building the Business Case for Design The ROI of evidence-based design can and should be measured. Addie encourages leaders to evaluate the cost of inaction: falls, turnover, never-events, and inefficiencies. Embedding "evidence-based design sheets" into construction documents helps preserve crucial interventions through the value-engineering process. 5. Dementia-Friendly Design Is Just Good Design Addie and Chase's collaborative project - the Dementia-Friendly Waiting Room, proved that low-cost, high-impact design moves can dramatically reduce anxiety and confusion. Adjusting color contrast, lighting, and furniture placement enhances safety and comfort for everyone, not just those with cognitive decline. "Designing for dementia is really just designing well for humans." 6. Shaping Policy Through the FGI As co-chair for the Residential Healthcare and Support Facilities guidelines, Addie helps define national design standards. The upcoming 2026 FGI update will include expanded sections on mental and behavioral health and clearer language for sensory processing environments, a huge step toward more inclusive care settings. 7. The Future of Healthcare Is Everywhere Healthcare doesn't exist in isolation; it's embedded in cities, homes, workplaces, and justice systems. Addie's example of a memory-care ward within a correctional facility, where inmate caregivers received CNA training, showed a 60% drop in recidivism, demonstrating how design can transform both health and society. Memorable Quotes "If you value something, you evaluate it." "If we aren't actively enabling our future selves, we're discriminating against ourselves in advance." "Designing for dementia isn't niche, it's simply designing for humans." "The future of healthcare is everywhere." Lightning Round Highlights Favorite healing space: A New York camp called anthroposophy, designed to cradle patients in light and acoustics. Book that changed her life: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Inspiration outside of work: Observing how people interact with spaces in everyday life. The future of healthcare: "Everywhere." Episode Resources Learn more about the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative: IHI.org/AgeFriendly Explore the Facilities Guidelines Institute (FGI): fgiguidelines.org Book mentioned: How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie Connect with Dr. Addie on LinkedIn Connect & Continue the Conversation Visit thearchitectureofhealing.com for more episodes, insights, and resources on shaping the future of healthcare through strategy, design, and operations. Follow The Architecture of Healing on: Website → thearchitectureofhealing.com LinkedIn → Chase Miller (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-h-miller/) LinkedIn → @TheArchitectureofHealing

15. 

    17 Nov 2025

    When Mission Meets Margin: Rethinking Healthcare Strategy

    Show Notes – Michelle Mader In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, host Chase Miller sits down with Michelle Mader Managing Director of Healthcare Strategic Advisory Services at Ankura, to explore the complexities of healthcare strategy, capital deployment, and the balance between mission and margin in today's healthcare landscape. Michelle brings deep expertise in helping large health systems prioritize capital deployment—essentially deciding where, when, and how to invest limited resources. From mission-driven nonprofits to shareholder-focused for-profits, she explains how healthcare organizations are navigating unprecedented challenges, including tightening budgets, aging populations, and shifting state and federal regulations. Michelle leaves us with a big idea: true transformation requires aligning financial incentives with patient access and outcomes—a shift every U.S. administration has wrestled with for decades. She provides a fascinating historical lens, tracing healthcare's evolution from employer-sponsored benefits in the 1940s through Medicare/Medicaid in the 1960s, the access-focused era of the 70s–90s, and today's cost-control environment. Whether you're a healthcare leader, strategist, designer, or simply curious about the forces shaping our healthcare system, this episode offers practical insights and big-picture perspective on how organizations can adapt, prioritize, and innovate in the face of rapid change. What You'll Learn in This Episode Capital Strategy & Prioritization – how healthcare systems balance limited resources with seemingly unlimited demands. The balancing act of healthcare as both business and humanity — why financial viability is essential for mission-driven care. Legislation and state-level impacts — how policies in Indiana, Maryland, and beyond are reshaping reimbursement and provider strategy. Rising Costs & Aging Populations – why healthcare in the U.S. faces such persistent financial strain. Generational eras of U.S. healthcare — from post-WWII infrastructure expansion to today's cost-control era. Operational trends in cost management — standardization, service consolidation, and smarter use of fixed assets. Mergers & Acquisitions – how consolidation drives standardization but doesn't always lower patient costs. Technology's promise (and pitfalls) — why healthcare IT hasn't yet delivered cost savings, and how cybersecurity and financial reform must catch up. The Future of Healthcare Delivery – how shifting demographics, financial reform, technology, and new care models will shape where and how people access care. About Michelle Mader For over 24 years, Michelle Mader has been at the forefront of transforming healthcare organizations through comprehensive system-based strategic initiatives. Her expertise lies in planning for national, multi-state, and regional networks. Michelle crafts strategic and capital plans by analyzing and collating market, financial, regulatory, operational, and facility opportunities. By prioritizing financial viability and identifying positive investment indicators, she streamlines the development process for clients, accelerates funding approvals, and fast-tracks implementation. Resources How to Connect Connect with Michelle Connect with Chase www.thearchitectureofhealing.com The views expressed herein are those of the podcast guest and not necessarily the views of Ankura Consulting Group, LLC., its management, its subsidiaries, its affiliates, or its other professionals. Ankura is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice.

16. 

    17 Nov 2025

    Designing Dignity: Pattie Moore on Aging, Empathy, and the ADA

    Show Notes In this powerful conversation, host Chase Miller sits down with designer and gerontologist Pattie Moore, a pioneer whose groundbreaking work forever changed how we think about aging, design, and accessibility. Pattie shares the remarkable story of disguising herself as an 85-year-old woman in the late 1970s to experience firsthand the challenges elders face in the built environment. Her courageous research journey across more than 100 cities not only influenced design thinking but also contributed to shaping the principles behind the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). From her early days navigating skepticism at Columbia University to shaping global conversations on universal design, Pattie opens up about blending creativity with social science, the mentors who inspired her, and the lessons she continues to pass on to a new generation of designers. This is an unforgettable episode about empathy, resilience, and the power of design to transform lives. What You'll Learn in This Episode How Pattie combined design and gerontology to create a new human-centered design discipline The origin story of her groundbreaking elder-disguise research project Firsthand experiences of how society treated elders before the ADA Why ADA compliance is just the starting point—not the finish line—for inclusive design The role of empathy, storytelling, and lived experience in shaping better environments Pattie's insights into teaching, mentoring, and inspiring the next generation of designers About Pattie Moore Pattie Moore is an internationally recognized industrial designer, gerontologist, and social innovator. Known for her pioneering research on aging, she has dedicated her career to advancing inclusive design—creating products, environments, and systems that work for people of all ages and abilities. Her work has influenced policy, product development, and architectural standards worldwide.  She continues to teach, mentor, and speak worldwide on the intersection of design, aging, and health. Resources Pattie Moore's Book: Disguised: A True Story Disguised How to Connect Connect with Pattie Wired Article Medium Article Connect with Chase www.thearchitectureofhealing.com

17. 

    17 Nov 2025

    Healthcare Technology, The Patient Experience, and...Airports

    In this episode of The Architecture of Healing, host Chase Miller sits down with Corey Gaarde, Principal at IMEG, to discuss how thoughtful integration of technology can profoundly impact healthcare design and delivery. Corey shares how his early fascination with science and engineering eventually led him to a career in healthcare technology. Together, they explore how the physical environment and care delivery models must be aligned with evolving clinical technologies, from supporting virtual nursing to reducing alarm fatigue and enhancing code response. Corey emphasizes that technology isn't just about devices and data; it's about supporting clinicians, improving patient safety, and enabling scalable, future-ready care models. This episode is a must-listen for healthcare executives, designers, and planners looking to reframe technology as a foundational element in healing. Topics Technology Must Be Integrated, not an afterthought Patient and Staff Experience Go Hand in Hand The Unlimited Potential of Virtual Care: Training and Change Management Are Essential Design for Scalability, Not Just Day-One Use Resources Born to Run Built to Last How to Connect Connect with Corey Connect with Chase www.thearchitectureofhealing.com

18. 

    18 Oct 2025

    Trailer

    The Architecture of Healing explores how healthcare strategy, design, and clinical experience come together to shape the future of care. Hosted by Chase Miller, this podcast is for leaders and thinkers designing a more human, strategic, and healing healthcare system.

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