Factors Which Need To Be Taken Into Consideration When Designing A Healthcare Facility

A healthcare facility is made up of a hundred different core functions and a million other support functions. Addressing the needs of all these areas is no easy task. The trick to designing such a complex building is to break it down to a number of subgroups or a way of categorizing the functions and thereafter subcategorizing it. For example, the functions maybe divided as the surgery wing, outpatient wing, laboratory services, diagnostics, research and the administration wing of the hospital.

These can thereafter be subcategorized as neurological wing, the orthopedic wing, pediatrics wing, cardio wing and so on and so forth based on the patient requirement and field of specialty. This again can be divided based on the condition in which the patient is in and have specialized rooms such as the ICU to cater to the needs of patients who need special care. The other more general wards can be divided as per nurse’s stations so as to help administer and control the functions on the floor better. The safety and proper care of patients is of paramount importance and thus, the managing of the floor needs to be effective and efficient. Thus, here are a few basic factors to guide a hospital design.

Efficient and Cost effective
A hospital is a place of emergency and thus, services need to be efficient in handling the various situations which may arise. While the distance between spaces and functions are reduced, the logistics system needs to be spot on at all times such as when you may be required to move a patient complete with IV tubes and monitors beeping to a different wing at a moment’s notice. The support services play a significant role and can be interlaced with the core functions for maximum efficiency. It also needs to be cost effective as a hospital is a guzzler of money and unless properly administered, can run out of funds fairly fast.

The Flexibility
The flexibility of the space is important in changing and adapting the functions to suit various requirements which arise on an emergency situation. While medical chairs maybe moved from place to place

Most medical equipment suppliers do not encourage the constant movement of large machines for the sake of the machine. Having modular systems which interconnect to these immovable areas of the hospital will allow flexibility and allow to be expanded without significant infrastructural changes.

Ambiance and patient mentality
Patients are usually confused and scared at a hospital. Rather than maintaining a sterile environment, something more soothing and assisting the therapeutic process of a patient is beneficial.