Being Wheeled or Walking

Abstract

Objective: In this article, we explore what a different way of moving—being wheeled versus walking—means for the spatial experience of day surgery patients. Background: Day surgery centers can be conceived in very different manners. Some are organized similar to traditional hospital admittance; others are located in a specifically designed part of the hospital and receive patients as guests who walk through the entire procedure. Methods: We conducted semistructured interviews with 37 patients at two distinct day surgery centers. Results: Despite the different managerial concepts and corresponding spatial designs, in both centers, patients’ spatial experience is shaped by the interrelation of material, social, and time-related aspects. However, the chosen concept results in a different experience throughout patients’ journey. Conclusions: Based on an analysis of the different journeys, we conclude that patients’ interpretation of a hospital’s care vision is influenced not only by what the hospital communicates explicitly or how it educates its staff but also by what is implicitly told by the built environment.