Healthcare Outcome Related Inpatient Unit Environment Function Requirements Extraction: A Multidiscipline Collaborated Investigation

Object: The aim of this paper is to learn from medical providers, patients and families, as well as healthcare environment design experts about the spatial environment function requirements (EFRs) most related to the hospital inpatient unit (IP) design. Background: The perspective that healthcare environment has influences on healthcare outcomes and medical activity participants’ wellbeing has been the common view of medical, nursing and architecture researchers and practitioners. Besides, the needs of the inpatient unit users vary with the development of medical, technology and life quality. Therefore, extracting the EFRs origins from the changing needs with regard to IP design is necessary. Method: Systemic literature review, expert panel, non-participant observation and affinity diagram were conducted successively to extract-enlarge-verify-modify-classify the EFRs. Result: The EFRs were divided into 4 theme categories and over 70 specific entries including: control medical safety, control security, promote care delivery efficiency, and improve physiological & psychological comfort. Conclusion: Large body of EFRs should be addressed in the future IP design, or when refurbishing existing counterparts, to order to keep pace with the updating and changes of the medical process.

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ISBN
978-1-944214-31-9