“Atmospheric Gap Analysis” - a tool to develop hospitals as places of care

Abstract

A hospital is a strange micro-world; a public place that we only enter with reason. It is a place of birth and death, of happiness and sorrow - it is the scene for the greatest memories of our lives. It is a vulnerable and private place where time stands still, and at the same time it is a fast-paced workplace. All these dimensions and interests makes a complex entangled atmosphere in this caring place. In this paper we present an exploratory methodology for performing what we call an Atmospheric Gap Analysis (AGAP) aimed at understanding the interplay of cultural, social, and environmental sensibilities that makes a hospital into a caring place. In close collaboration with the oncology and urology departments at Gødstrup Hospital, Denmark, we have created an exploratory framework for understanding the departments as place. The methodology contains in-depth interviews with patients and relatives, group interviews with nurses, doctors and other staff members, atmosphere-observations, soundwalks, sound- and video recordings, object-interviews, and photo observations. The AGAP-analysis is aimed at producing situated knowledge about the department as place; what is now, what is needed and what is wanted. The aim is to create a framework that can be applied to more departments in the future and contribute to conversations on how healthcare and artistic practice can break-down the knowledge silos and utilize artistic practice to understand and support health-caring places. The paper presents the results of our studies, the AGAP-reports, which gives in-depth knowledge about the different atmospheres, people and places that are part the hospital departments. Furthermore, we discuss how the AGAP-reports were used in a shared design-workshop where doctors, surgeons, designers, nurses, playwriters, healthcare decision-makers, curators, and more, were gathered to discuss how to develop a new type of art that support patients, relatives, and personnel in healthcare.