What is a Hospital?
A hospital is a multifaceted institution designed to provide comprehensive
medical care, including diagnostic, therapeutic, surgical, and emergency services.
It serves as both a healthcare facility and a social institution, reflecting societal
values through its architecture and operations. Hospitals are built to ensure
efficiency, patient comfort, and optimal care through a combination of human-
centered design and advanced technology.
(reference.. https://www.aha.org/what-is-a- )
Types of Hospitals
Hospitals vary widely in their specialties and services.
Common types include:
- General hospitals providing a wide range of services.
- Specialty hospitals focusing on specific areas like
pediatrics or psychiatry.
- Teaching hospitals affiliated with medical schools for
training and research.
- Community hospitals serving local populations.
-Burn Centers Specialize in the treatment of severe
burn injuries.
-Cardiology Hospitals Specialize in treating heart and
vascular conditions.
-Trauma Centers Equipped to handle severe and life-threatening injuries.
-Psychiatric Hospitals Focus on treating patients with mental health disorders.
-Rehabilitation Hospitals Specialize in rehabilitative care for patients recovering from surgery,
injury, or illness.(reference.. https://www.aha.org/education-events/types-hospitals )
Basic Functional Spaces for a General Hospital
General hospitals include essential areas such as:
- Emergency departments for urgent care.
- Inpatient units for overnight stays.
- Operating rooms for surgeries.
- Diagnostic imaging and laboratories for testing.
- Outpatient clinics for non-hospitalized patients.
-Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Centers that Provide physical, occupational, and speech
therapy services.
-Intensive Care Units (ICU) that Provides critical care for patients with severe or life-threatening
illnesses and injuries.
- Administrative offices, reception, waiting areas, and support services like kitchens and
laundries.
- Spaces for telemedicine and IT infrastructure are increasingly important.
(reference.. https://www.aha.org/ )
Designing for patients flow
Designing a hospital to ensure smooth patient flow is essential
for reducing waiting times and improving patient care. This
involves creating clear, easy-to-follow pathways that help
patients and staff move efficiently throughout the building. Key
elements include using easy-to-read signs to guide people,
arranging rooms and departments to minimize unnecessary
travel, and using technology to analyze how people move within
the hospital to design better pathways. By focusing on these
aspects, hospitals can make sure patients reach their
destinations quickly and with less stress, while staff can work
more efficiently and provide better care.
(reference.. https://www.archdaily.com/tag/hospital- )
Impact of natural light on patient’s recovery
Natural light is incredibly important for patients in hospitals because it helps them feel happier,
less stressed, and can speed up their recovery. Hospitals are designed with large windows,
skylights on the roof, and open spaces like atriums to let in as much natural light as possible.
They strategically place windows and use shiny surfaces to reflect and spread the light
throughout the building. By maximizing natural light, hospitals create a more pleasant
atmosphere for patients, which not only boosts their spirits but also supports their healing
process by enhancing their overall well-being and potentially shortening their recovery times.
(reference.. https://www.hfmmagazine.com/articles/3705-designing-with-natural-light )
Wayfinding and navigation
Clear and easy navigation is really important in hospitals to make sure everyone can move
around smoothly and without stress. It’s all about having signs that are easy to read and follow,
using different colors for different paths, and having maps that you can interact with. Hospitals
also use things like big signs you can’t miss and other things you can see clearly to help you
know where you are. They also use digital stuff like phone apps and screens you can touch to
help you find your way. By doing all this, hospitals make it easier for everyone to get around
comfortably and find what they need without feeling confused or lost.
(reference.. https://www.healthdesign.org/chd/toolkit/wayfinding-and-navigation )
Universal design and accessibility
Universal design in hospitals is about making sure everyone, no
matter their age or abilities, can easily use the facilities. This
means having things like ramps for wheelchairs, doors wide
enough for walkers and wheelchairs to fit through, and
bathrooms that are easy to use for everyone. Signs have raised
letters and braille for people who can’t see well, and there are
systems to help people hear better. Following ADA guidelines is
really important too, and hospitals also think about ways to help
people who might have trouble with thinking or feeling. By doing
all of this, hospitals make sure that everyone can use their
facilities comfortably and without any problems.
(reference.. https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/14028-
universal-design-in-healthcare-facilities
Designing for infection control
Designing hospitals to prevent infections is really important. They
use special surfaces that fight germs, good ventilation to keep the air
clean, and rooms just for patients who might be sick. There are also
places where you can wash your hands easily, and they make sure to
get rid of waste safely. Everything in a hospital is made so it can be
cleaned easily. They also use fancy systems to keep the air fresh and
clean without anyone having to touch anything. By doing all of this,
hospitals make sure they stay really clean and stop germs from
spreading around, which keeps everyone safe and healthy.
(reference.. https://www.healthdesign.org/chd/solutions/infection-
control )
