Future healthcare facility design: connecting the unconnected.

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Design Shift Alert: Moving away from "rigid and constrained facilities" towards "flexible and adaptable facilities" that can be built up fast in an emergency. At the time of Covid, there was a dire need for facility renovations. Immediate facility adaptations were required all around the world to cope with the inflow of patients infected with highly contagious virus and to segregate hospitalized patients using negative pressure chambers for respiratory isolation. Never has healthcare design changed as swiftly as it had during the COVID-19 epidemic. There was no longer any debate about improving one's health; rather, it was a scenario of giving the bare minimum key health care. Organizations couldn't do anything because the spread was overwhelming and unprecedented for everyone. Given that we are still in the pandemic period with a more resilient population, policymakers, designers, and health professionals must radically improve the way healthcare facilities are structured in future to account for natural disasters such as Covid-19.

              Although it is impossible to provide better health in these times, the healthcare facilities could be designed flexible to accommodate the needs of handling and caring for huge numbers of patients while still providing the bare minimum of care. To uncover chances for intervention, the entire healthcare system should be examined from primary to tertiary levels. It’s all about connecting the unconnected. Future Thinking Technique and focus groups discussion was used to explore possible solutions for future healthcare facility design.