Architectural Factors to Consider When Designing a Healthcare Facility

Architectural Factors to Consider When Designing a Healthcare Facility

From small and relatively simple medical clinics to large teaching hospitals, healthcare facilities come in a wide range of designs. Large research hospitals may require subsidiary health care types that act as independent facilities. Whatever the facility’s size, it needs to convey a message of comfort, compassion, and commitment to patient well-being through its architectural design.

Cost pressures

There are many regulations and technical requirements that govern health care facility design. However, less defined needs and pressures also influence the design. For example, workforce shortages, reimbursements, and physician-hospital relations all influence a healthcare facility’s architectural design. In fact, the entire heath care industry faces pressure to reduce costs while being more responsive to customer needs. While the aging population is the heaviest users of health care services, this population continues to grow.

Security issues

Especially, in large healthcare facilities, architectural designs need to balance security with desired openness to patient and visitors. For this reason, many architects employ an evidence-based design, where decisions are based on credible research to achieve the best possible outcomes. This type of architectural design helps create a safe and therapeutic environment for patient care while also encouraging family involvement. It also promotes efficient staff performance by making the environment restorative for workers under stress.

Classification

As the health care industry becomes increasingly specialized, there are a growing number of health care types. For example, there are hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient facilities, and rehabilitation facilities—all of which require different design styles. Before designing a specific health care facility, the type of center needs to be classified into its building type. The four main categories include hospital, nursing home, outpatient clinic, and psychiatric facility. Outpatient clinics include the specialized diagnostic and treatment areas that may be stand alone facilities.

The Tucson architects of Sears Gerbo Architecture believe that clients should play an equal role in the design process. As a result, we strive for co-authorship and co-ownership of architectural design principles. To learn more about designing a healthcare facility in Tucson, please call us at (520) 722-5079.