The buildings and the physical infrastructure that support the Hospitals must have the capacity for adaptability, growth and transformation, due to the changing technological advances in health.
They also have to support the new models of operation and administration of Hospitals, the flow of personnel and information, as well as the current and future needs of patients, doctors and visitors.
The hospital designers & planners in the selection of a Hospital are highly trained adults and professionals, who mostly belong to the “millennial generation”, and as such are users of all kinds of technologies that help them to make decisions the most part of the time.
Here are some important milestones to take into account for the development of hospital projects, based on the experience and trends of the experts:
The structure must go according to the design, function and aesthetics of the concept to which we add factors of architectural language, interior design and environmental certifications.
With current demands, buildings cannot remain static and the structure must help us to have multifunctional spaces, and that it evolve according to its operation and needs.
The design must be committed to the environment and the impact on it; that is why the project must adhere to national and international guidelines for certification, orientation and definition, depending on the type of project, whether it is a new construction, remodeling or operation.
Health infrastructure is today one of the most complex challenges for a project design and structuring team; by itself, the hospital building is the most difficult to design due to the complexity of the technologies that are integrated, and the expectations of patients and families, which combined with those of healthcare processes, are the input to design a healthcare environment.
The perfect balance between structure and nature is one of the great challenges for designers, it requires exquisite style, respect for nature and the site of the project. Landscaping must provide comfort and at the same time respect the care and infection control processes.
Hand washing is the most basic and important step in hygiene protocols, so it is the responsibility of the hospital architect to implement a design where the sinks are perfectly located, with the necessary accessibility and visibility for healthcare and medical personnel.
The healthcare architecture firms in India comply with current national and international regulations and prioritize minimizing the travel of personnel in operation, reducing times and movements in favor of efficiency, simplifying and differentiating access to emergencies.
Of the architectural spaces that are useful today, and were not considered in Hospitals from before 2000, we could state:
- Comprehensive work areas: close to services and equipped with computer stations, projectors, etc. for discussion of cases between doctors, nursing, technicians, social workers, etc.
- Community gardens: spaces for interaction between doctors, patients and the community.
- Community areas: flexible places with amenities for outdoor activities and interaction with alternative health care specialists.
- Hospitality management: coordination of care for the patient’s family member as well as visitors.
- E-Kiosks: information kiosks to provide general information to patients and families.