Traffic means a constriction that delays the efforts ofvisitor in reaching its destination. An already vulnerable patient entering the hospital would only expect immediate care offered to him. Any delays shall only magnify theiranxiety, resulting in nightmares for the care-givers. Healthcare designers should pre-empt challenges posed by lean resources planned by stake-holders, demanding patients and longer waiting period. Every healthcare facilityhas four principal user groups – Patients, Attendants, Staff, Materials / Equipment, all having a common destination.
SEGREGATING COMMUNICATION MODE
Having identified different user groups within the hospital, it is imperative that we segregate their route of vertical communication. Priority to any user group results in delay to the other group, besides compromising their privacy. So, it is not a luxury to have multiple routes, but function warrants the same.
DEPARTMENTAL ADJACENCIES
The essence of healthcare planning lies in juxtaposing the interdependent departments in the neighborhood.This results in preventing delays to care-access by cutting the travel time. Proximity between Emergency and Radiology, TMT and Cardiologists, Sonography within Obs+Gynec department remain few yet classic examples.
DECENTRALIZING COMMON SERVICES
Multi-tasking at Patient Touch Points should ideally be avoided to ease the crowding at these nodes. Reception should only divert the Patients and Departmental Scheduling stations should register. Pharmacists should only dispense medicines whereas collecting cash should be left to the Cashiers.
ENGAGING ACTIVITIES
Doing away with congested and relatively dark waiting spaces helps maintain sanity in the waiting areas. Besides, engaging patients during their waiting period helps cut boredom and the trauma associated with it. Globally recognized concept of conducting Vital parameters prior to entering the Doctor’s clinic suggests the approaching time of meeting his doctor.
INNOVATIVE IDEAS
Healthcare industry is known to keep itself abreast with technology. This is not limited to the periodic introduction of new equipment,but even the approach to treatment has gone futuristic. Telemedicine, Tele-radiology are no longer the alien words. Infact, e-ICU is becoming increasingly popular. Doctors sitting at one location monitor patients at multiple locations, and at times, even patients at home. In either situation, the influx of human traffic within the healthcare premise remains decongested.
In a nutshell, increasing patients in a given hospital speak volumes of their success in giving care, butthrows additional challenges at the hospital administration in controlling these higher volumes. No wonder, Hospital traffic is often compared with Air traffic and the Hospital administration is known as Air Traffic Controller of the hospital.