Simulated impact of lift car sizes on transport of critical care patients: Informing the design of the New Dunedin Hospital.

The New Dunedin Hospital (NDH) is New Zealand's largest health infrastructure build. Here we describe the use of a simple simulation-based hospital design exercise to inform the appropriate lift car size for critical care intrahospital transfers in the NDH. The intensive care unit (ICU) user group tested a series of entries and exits of simulated complex patient transfers in mocked-up lift cars of three different dimensions. Time taken to enter and exit the lift were recorded, reflecting the relative difficulty of transfer. Qualitative assessments were made of ease and perceived safety of transfer. These simulations demonstrated that recommended standard patient lift cars, often proposed for critical care transfers, could not physically accommodate all complex ICU transfers. A size of 1800 mm wide (W) × 3000 mm deep (D) had the physical capacity to permit all simulated ICU transfers, but with staff and patient risk. As lift car size increased to 2200 mm W × 3300 mm D, the simulation demonstrated reduced transfer times, smoother entry and exit, improved access to the head end of the bed, and reduced risk of disconnection or dislodgement of lines and airway support. The resultant clinical recommendations for the dimensions of a critical care lift car surpass current international health architecture guidelines and may help to inform future updates. The NDH project benefited from an objective assessment of risk, in language familiar to clinicians and healthcare architects. The outcome was an upsizing of the two ICU-capable lifts.

Pioneering the Use of Tracker Data to Evaluate Lean-Led Hospital Design.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine how we can effectively and affordably evaluate the impact of design concepts such as Lean-Led Hospital Design (LLHD) on the allocation of nurses' time spent at different locations. Particularly in patient rooms, as this can be seen as value-adding time. BACKGROUND: LLHD aims to create a hospital environment that supports value creation for patients and reduces waste. However, only a few studies measure its' effects. One of the reasons for this absence is the lack of an adequate and affordable way to evaluate. METHOD: Nurses' time spent in patient rooms was used as a proxy for value-adding time. Through studying a pioneering case of LLHD, and drawing on a pre-/postoccupancy evaluation approach, this study used an innovative methodology utilizing mobile tracking devices to adequately provide reliable data about the time nurses spend at specific locations. RESULTS: Our analysis reveals that the answer to the question concerning the impact of LLHD, as advocated by its proponents, on nurses' allocation of time for value-adding activities versus waste time remains inconclusive. Our findings indicate no discernible difference in the amount of value-adding time nurses spent in the old facility compared to the new one. CONCLUSION: Our experience suggests that mobile tracking devices offer an affordable, efficient means of collecting data that produces objective measurements. Nevertheless, the interpretation of this time-based data necessitates the inclusion of supplementary qualitative information.

The Role of the Built Environment as a Therapeutic Intervention in Mental Health Facilities: A Systematic Literature Review.

OBJECTIVES: This systematic literature review synthesizes and assesses empirical research concerning the use of the built environment as a therapeutic intervention in adult mental health inpatient facilities. The review explores the impact of facility design on patient outcomes. BACKGROUND: There is a growing recognition that the built environment in mental health facilities must strike a balance between ensuring safety and providing a therapeutic atmosphere. A review addressing how facility design contributes to this therapeutic environment is warranted. METHODS: Database searches were conducted in CINAHL, Embase, PsychInfo, PubMed, and Web of Science from inception up to March 10, 2022. The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN50) critical appraisal checklists were used to assess the quality of included studies. RESULTS: Of the 44 peer-reviewed studies identified from nine countries, several factors emerged as vital for the therapeutic environment in mental health inpatient facilities. These included personal spaces prioritizing privacy and control of the environment, daylight-optimized spaces, versatile communal areas promoting activities and interaction, designated areas for visits and spiritual/contemplative reflection, homelike environments, the inclusion of artwork in units, open nursing stations, and dedicated female-only areas. Yet, there is a need for research yielding stronger evidence-based designs harmonizing with therapeutic needs. CONCLUSION: This review offers initial guidance on designing mental health facilities that foster a therapeutic environment, while highlighting that the influence of facility design on mental health inpatients is considerably under-researched.

Improving the Mental Health of Surgical Teams Through Operating Room Design.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to develop and propose an evaluation method for analyzing the design of operating rooms (ORs) from the perspective of surgical teams' reported experiences and stress levels. BACKGROUND: Stress and burnout of surgical team members can lead to diminished performance and medical errors, which endangers the safety of both the patients and team members. The design and layout of the OR play a critical role in managing such stress. METHODS: To understand surgical teams' spatial needs related to their experiences and stress, we administered a survey and in-depth focus group discussions to three surgical teams from the same organization. The identified spatial needs were translated into functional scenarios and spatial metrics, essentially viewing the OR through the perspective of users. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed four integral sections-patient flow, room organization, access to facilities/medical equipment/support staff/team members, and staff well-being-identified as critical design factors associated with the experiences and stress levels of the surgical teams in the ORs. CONCLUSIONS: We expect this method to serve as a tool for evaluating the effect of the design of OR layouts on stress, thereby supporting the well-being and resiliency of surgical teams.

Eco-friendly hospital architecture.

Following a reminder on the quantities of carbon emitted in the healthcare sector, and casting a spotlight on those directly related to architecture, the authors of this article will develop three large-scale themes, the objective being to render hospital construction sustainable. 1. Energy consumption and how to reduce it. 2. "Low-carbon" construction and how building designers can limit emissions by the choice of construction materials. 3. The "resilience" of some constructions, their capacity to stave off obsolescence. As a conclusion, the authors present one of the most recent projects of the Brunet Saunier & Associates architecture agency: the Saint-Ouen university hospital, Grand Paris Nord. This project is illustrative of these preoccupations and demonstrates the possibility of meeting the challenges of sustainable development by means of simple and durable architecture.

Rethinking the Healthcare Facilities: The Role of the Buffer Space.

OBJECTIVES: A working group conducted a survey on the use of the principle of buffer space (BS), which in case of emergencies, could benefit healthcare settings. The aim of the preliminary investigation is to define new research lines in hospitals' functional design. BACKGROUND: The global experience of the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted challenges faced by hospitals when responding promptly to emergencies, including spatial reorganization and suspension of ordinary medical activities for ensuring adequate management of the emergency surge of patients. METHODS: The group designed questionnaires to be administered to healthcare staff and healthcare designers aimed at understanding varied conceptions and features of BSs. Content across the two surveys overlapped significantly, allowing for direct comparisons of responses, while also including tailored questions in relation to the respective experience and skills of the two groups of respondents. RESULTS: 102 healthcare professionals and 56 designers took part to the survey. Analysis of the responses permitted for initial recommendations regarding BS typology including (a) proximity to the emergency department (ED), intensive care units (ICUs), and inpatient wards (IWs); (b) location within hospitals but separate from other medical areas; (c) need for independent access; (d) organizational and spatial features similar to ED, ICUs, and IWs; (e) existing as a fully flexible operational space; and (f) BS bed capacity to be approximately 12% of ED beds. CONCLUSIONS: Although the analysis is related to the Italian context, the expansion of this preliminary research to alternate healthcare facilities and geographic areas is necessary for reaching a wide consensus by different professionals on this field. It serves as a starting point for future investigations regarding the implementation of BS in hospital settings.

Adapting to Change: A Systematic Literature Review of Environmental Flexibility in Emergency Departments.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to offer a comprehensive analysis of distinct design strategies identified, evaluated, or discussed in the existing literature that promote environmental flexibility in the context of emergency departments (EDs). BACKGROUND: EDs are subject to constant changes caused by several factors, including seasonal disease trends, the emergence of new technologies, and surges resulting from local or global disasters, such as mass casualty incidents or pandemics. Thus, integrating flexibility into ED design becomes crucial to effectively addressing these evolving needs. METHODS: A systematic search was conducted in four databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, PubMed, and ScienceDirect, in addition to a hand search. A two-stage review process was employed to determine the final list of included articles based on the inclusion criteria. Included studies were evaluated for quality, and findings were categorized using a hybrid deductive and inductive coding approach. RESULTS: From the initial yield of 900 records, 22 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final full-text review. The identified design strategies were organized into five categories: modifiability (n = 13 articles), versatility (n = 8 articles), tolerance (n = 6 articles), convertibility (n = 4 articles), and scalability (n = 7 articles). Specific design strategies under each category are reported in detail. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that most flexibility design solutions are based on anecdotal evidence or descriptive studies, which carry less weight in terms of reliable support for conclusions. Therefore, more studies employing quantitative, relational, or causal designs are recommended.

Toward a Future Orientation: A Supportive Mental Health Facility Environment.

BACKGROUND: The provision of supportive environments is essential in clinical and environmental psychology. Mental health disorders are a major issue, and the experience of being at a mental health facility is affected by numerous factors related to the building's design. AIM: The aim of this study is to explore the expectations of a mental health facility planning group regarding the potential impact of a supportive design on patients' mental health and staff's therapeutic practices when planning and designing a new mental health facility. METHODS: The new mental health facility is a case study and data were collected through qualitative in-depth interviews with nine participants and analyzed using a thematic analysis. The participants came from a mental health facility planning group in a new mental health facility in Norway. RESULTS: The overall expectation of the new building was related to a future orientation to support patients' mental health and therapeutic practices. Three main themes were identified: toward a future orientation, supportive building design, and work environment. CONCLUSIONS: Supportive environments are expected to influence patients' mental health and staff's therapeutic practices, including providing options for novel treatment needs in contrast to older and more outdated buildings that are perceived as hindering appropriate treatment conditions.

The Influence of Exposure to Nature on Inpatient Hospital Stays: A Scoping Review.

AIM: To summarize the existing literature surrounding the influence of natural elements on course in hospital and to introduce clinicians to the concept of biophilic design and the potential for incorporation of nature into the hospital environment as a component of a therapeutic hospitalization. BACKGROUND: For decades, architects and designers have espoused the benefits of incorporating natural elements into the healthcare environment for therapeutic purposes. The benefits of this "biophilic" design philosophy has been investigated predominantly in long-term care or rehabilitation settings; however, some of the most appealing opportunities lie in the acute care setting. METHODS: This scoping review surveyed the literature surrounding the influence of exposure to nature on course in acute hospitalizations. After screening 12,979 citations, 41 articles were included. Exposures were divided into seven categories, the most common of which were the presence of a window/natural light, a natural scene through a window, and nature soundscapes. These articles were reviewed in a narrative fashion and thematic analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Studies were extremely heterogeneous in their design, research questions, and reported outcomes. Types of exposure to nature studied were exposure to a real natural scene through a window, presence of a window/nature light, nature in the healthcare environment, art depicting nature, direct contact with nature, nature soundscapes, and nature experienced through virtual reality (VR). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to nature during an acute hospital admission appears to have a real but small therapeutic effect, predominantly on psychological metrics like anxiety/depression, pain, and patient satisfaction. Greater beneficial effects are seen with greater durations of exposure to nature and greater degrees of immersion into nature (e.g., creating multisensory experiences using emerging technology like VR).

Reimagine the ICU: Healthcare Professionals' Perspectives on How Environments (Can) Promote Patient Well-Being.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims (1) to understand the needs and challenges of the current intensive care unit (ICU) environments in supporting patient well-being from the perspective of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and (2) to explore the new potential of ICU environments enabled by technology. BACKGROUND: Evidence-based design has yielded how the design of environments can advocate for patient well-being, and digital technology offers new possibilities for indoor environments. However, the role of technology in facilitating ICU patient well-being has been unexplored. METHOD: This study was conducted in two phases. First, a mixed-method study was conducted with ICU HCPs from four Dutch hospitals. The study investigated the current environmental support for care activities, as well as the factors that positively and negatively contribute to patient experience. Next, a co-creation session was held involving HCPs and health technology experts to explore opportunities for technology to support ICU patient well-being. RESULTS: The mixed-method study revealed nine negative and eight positive patient experience factors. HCPs perceived patient emotional care as most challenging due to the ICU workload and a lack of environmental support in fulfilling patient emotional needs. The co-creation session yielded nine technology-enabled solutions to address identified challenges. Finally, drawing from insights from both studies, four strategies were introduced that guide toward creating technology to provide holistic and personalized care for patients. CONCLUSION: Patient experience factors are intertwined, necessitating a multifactorial approach to support patient well-being. Viewing the ICU environment as a holistic unit, our findings provide guidance on creating healing environments using technology.

Designed for a pandemic: Mitigating the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission through hospital design and infrastructure.

BACKGROUND: To describe the new Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) design and infrastructure features that helped mitigate the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission within the hospital during the pre-vaccination and pre-antiviral period. METHOD: The RAH infrastructure, design and initial pandemic response was assessed. A retrospective review of all confirmed or suspected coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients admitted from 1 February 2020 to 30 May 2020 was also performed to assess risk of transmission. Outbreak response reports were reviewed to identify episodes of nosocomial COVID-19. RESULTS: Key infrastructure features include single-bed overnight rooms with dedicated bathrooms, creation of pandemic areas accessible only to pandemic staff, and sophisticated air-handling units with improved ventilation. A total of 264 COVID-19 related admission occurred, with 113 confirmed cases and 1579 total cumulative bed days. Despite a limited understanding of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, no vaccination or anti-viral therapy, global shortages of particulate filter respirators and restricted testing during this period, only one probable nosocomial COVID-19 case occurred in a healthcare worker, with no nosocomial cases involving patients. CONCLUSIONS: The RAH design and pandemic features complimented existing infection control interventions and was important in limiting nosocomial spread of SARS-CoV-2.

Application of the Childbirth Supporter Study to Advance the Birth Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool.

OBJECTIVE: Translational research to advance design criteria and apply the Childbirth Supporter Study (CSS) findings to practice. BACKGROUND: The physical design of birth environments has not undergone substantial improvements in layout or ambiance since the initial move to hospitals. Cooperative, continuously present childbirth supporters are beneficial and are an expectation for most modern birth practices, yet the built environment does not offer support for the supporter. METHODS: To advance design criteria, we use a comparative case study approach to create translational findings. Specifically, CSS findings were used as indicators to advance the Birth Unit Design Spatial Evaluation Tool (BUDSET) design characteristics in pursuit of better support for childbirth supporters in the built hospital birth environment. RESULTS: This comparative case study provides eight new BUDSET design domain suggestions to benefit the supporter-woman dyad, and subsequently the baby and care providers. CONCLUSIONS: Research-informed design imperatives are needed to guide the inclusion of childbirth supporters as both a supporter and as an individual in the birth space. Increased understanding of relationships between specific design features and childbirth supporters' experiences and reactions are provided. Suggestions to enhance the applicability of the BUDSET for birth unit design facility development are made, specifically ones that will better accommodate childbirth supporters.

Strategic management and risk control of emergency hospital construction: SWOT and STPA framework from a systems thinking perspective.

The construction of emergency hospitals is crucial for ensuring medical service provision during disasters. Assembled buildings have emerged as the preferred choice for large-scale emergency hospitals due to their rapid construction and high quality. However, the construction of emergency hospitals involves the collaboration of multiple departments, and there is a lack of research on the management of such construction projects. Given the urgent need for emergency hospitals, analyzing potential hazards in the construction process from a systemic perspective is essential to manage their construction effectively. In this study, the SWOT and STPA methods are employed to investigate the construction management of emergency buildings, with the Wuhan Vulcan Mountain Hospital in China serving as a case study for emergency management analysis. This study can provide ideas for emergency hospital management and a basis for controlling possible emergency construction accidents.

Structural accreditation of healthcare facilities: comparison of the requirements by Italian Presidential Decree 14/01/1997 and regional regulations. A proposal for updating the minimum environmental units at national level.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The Decree of the President of the Italian Republic 14/01/1997 is the reference norm related to the accreditation of public and private healthcare structures. This guideline establishes the minimum structural, technological and organizational requirements that each structure operating in the Italian territory must comply with. METHODS: In occasion of the project work for the postgraduate training course in healthcare management by ALTEMS School, a team of researchers conducted a survey on the state of updating of the minimum structural requirements indicated in the norm-in particular those relating to hospital facilities- with those adopted by the individual regions through the analysis of the most up-to-date regional regulations. RESULTS: Precisely starting from the comparison of regional references and from the regulations on the subject of structural accreditation which suggest strategic environmental units and which address some key-aspects relating to the contemporary design of healing environments (i.e. semi-intensive care units, hybrid operating theatres, etc.), the outcome of the project work is to define a proposal to update the national reference document, also in the light of the currently changing needs in terms of hospital design. CONCLUSIONS: The research aims to become a starting milestone for future investigations. The team investigated - in this first phase - the functional areas listed in the norm, and the next step aims to extend the analysis also to the innovative functions (i.e. buffer spaces, hybrid operating theatres, sub-intensive care units, etc.) and/or introduced only the last years which have only been regulated in some regions.

[Intelligent intensive care unit design:will it be accessible in the future].

ICU is an essential location for critically ill patients to receive comprehensive diagnosis and treatment. However, the high intensity of ICU clinical work, the difficulty of diagnosis and treatment, and the poor humanistic environment require us to accelerate the pace of ICU reform. Therefore, the use of advanced technology to create an intelligent ICU department is imperative. The modern ICU is rich in electronic data and can collect a large amount of patient data during routine care, making it an ideal place to deploy intelligent digital platforms. The vast amounts of data generated by monitoring systems and electronic medical records provide fertile ground for the development of more accurate predictive models, better Clinical Decision Support System and more personalized diagnosis and treatment. At the same time, a well-designed and well-arranged ICU department will greatly enhance the patient's sense of occupancy, as well as increase the professional pride and sense of belonging. Therefore, the establishment of an intelligent ICU department is the only way for ICU to enter the fast lane of development, which will also have a profound impact on the development of ICU.

The "Trinity" smart hospital construction policy promotes the development of hospitals and health management in China.

Recently, in order to comprehensively promote the development of medical institutions and solve the nationwide problems in the healthcare fields, the government of China developed an innovative national policy of "Trinity" smart hospital construction, which includes "smart medicine," "smart services," and "smart management". The prototype of the evaluation system has been established, and a large number of construction achievements have emerged in many hospitals. In this article, the summary of this field was performed to provide a reference for medical workers, managers of hospitals, and policymakers.

Resilient Hospital Design: From Crimean War to COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: Serious COVID-19 nosocomial infection has demonstrated a need to design our health services in a different manner. Triggered by the current crisis and the interest in rapid deployable hospital, this article discusses how hospital building layouts can be improved to streamline the patient pathways and thus to reduce the risk of hospital-related infections. Another objective of this work is to explore the possibility to develop flexible and scalable hospital building layouts through modular construction. This enables hospitals to better cope with different future demands and thereby enhance the resilience of the healthcare facilities. BACKGROUND: During the first wave of COVID-19, approximate one-seventh to one-fifth COVID-19 patients and majority of infected healthcare workers acquired the disease in NHS hospitals. Similar issues emerged during the Crimean War (1853-1856) when more soldiers died from infectious diseases rather than of battlefield casualties in Scutari Hospital. This led to an important collaborative work between Florence Nightingale, who looked into this problem statistically, and Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who designed the rapid deployment Renkioi Hospital which yielded a death rate 90% lower than that in Scutari Hospital. While contemporary medical research and practice have moved beyond Nightingale's concept of contagion, challenges of optimizing hospital building layouts to support healing and effectively combat nosocomial infections still pose elusive problems that require further investigation. METHODS: Through case study investigations, this article evaluates the risk of nosocomial infections of airborne transmissions under different building layouts, and this provides essential data for infection control in the new-build or refurbished healthcare projects. RESULTS: Improved hospital layout can be achieved through reconfiguration of rooms and concourse. Design interventions through evidence-based infection risk analysis can reduce congestion and provide extra separation and compartmentalization which will contribute the reduced nosocomial infection rate. CONCLUSIONS: A resilient hospital shall be able to cope with unexpected circumstances and be flexible to change when new challenges arise, without compromising the safety and well-being of frontline medical staff and other patients. Such an organizational resilience depends on not only flexible clinical protocols but also flexible hospital building layouts. The latter allows hospitals to get better prepared for rapidly changing patient expectations, medical advances, and extreme weather events. The reconfigurability of an existing healthcare facility can be further enhanced through modular construction, standardization of building components, and additional space considered.

Learning by chance. Student nurses' conditions for learning in single-room hospital design. A realistic evaluation.

AIM: The aim of this study was to explore how a single-room hospital design influenced student nurses' learning and competence development in clinical practice compared with shared-room accommodation, refining the programme theory: The student nurses' conditions for learning in single-room hospital design are associated with the values of the patient room as the patient's home during hospitalisation. BACKGROUND: It is evident that a hospital design with single-room accommodation influences several parameters for both the patients and staff. Furthermore, studies have shown that the physical as well as the psychological learning environment affects the learning outcome for student nurses. A premise for learning and education is that the physical learning space must promote person-centred and collaborative learning in order for the students to achieve their competence development goals. DESIGN: The study was conducted as a realistic evaluation that compares second and fifth-semester undergraduate nurses' learning and competence development in clinical practice in shared accommodation (a pre-study) to single-room accommodation (a post-study). METHODS: In the data generation, we drew on an ethnographically inspired participant observation method. We gathered data during the period 2019-2021, covering the time before and approximately one year after relocation to all single-room accommodation. We undertook 120 h of participant observation for the pre-study and 146 h of participant observation for the post-study. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the learning environment in a single-room accommodation setting promotes task-oriented practices where the patient is often a mediator of activities related to nursing care. The learning environment in single-room accommodation places increased demands on the students' ability to reflect on verbal instructions on nursing activities whenever the chance for reflection presents itself. We also conclude that in a single-room accommodation setting, stakeholders must focus on conscious planning and follow-up on the student nurses' learning and educational activities which must support the students' competence development. Hence, summing up to a refined programme theory developed through the realistic evaluation process: The student nurse's conditions for learning in a single-room hospital design are associated with increased demands on the student's ability to reach out for professional reflection when the chance presents itself. This is because the value of the patient room as the patient's home during hospitalisation promotes a task-solving approach to nursing with the patient and the patient's relatives as instructors.