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1 – 10 of over 3000Ying Zhou, Yu Wang, Chenshuang Li, Lieyun Ding and Cong Wang
This study aimed to propose a performance-oriented approach of automatically generative design and optimization of hospital building layouts in consideration of public health…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to propose a performance-oriented approach of automatically generative design and optimization of hospital building layouts in consideration of public health emergency, which intended to conduct reasonable layout design of hospital building to meet different performance requirements for both high efficiency during normal periods and low risk in the pandemic.
Design/methodology/approach
The research design follows a sequential mixed methodology. First, key points and parameters of hospital building layout design (HBLD) are analyzed. Then, to meet the requirements of high efficiency and low risk, adjacent preference score and infection risk coefficient are constructed as constraints. On this basis, automatic generative design is conducted to generate building layout schemes. Finally, multi-objective deviation analysis is carried out to obtain the optimal scheme of hospital building layouts.
Findings
Automatic generative design of building layouts that integrates adjacent preferences and infection risks enables hospitals to achieve rapid transitions between normal (high efficiency) and pandemic (low risk) periods, which can effectively respond to public health emergencies. The proposed approach has been verified in an actual project, which can help systematically explore the solution for better decision-making.
Research limitations/implications
The form of building layouts is limited to rectangles, and future work can explore conducting irregular layouts into optimization for the framework of generative design.
Originality/value
The contribution of this paper is the developed approach that can quickly and effectively generate more hospital layout alternatives satisfying high operational efficiency and low infection risk by formulating space design rules, which is of great significance in response to public health emergency.
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Horacio Soriano‐Meier, Paul L. Forrester, Sibi Markose and Jose Arturo Garza‐Reyes
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of layout configurations in a hospital on the implementation of lean management initiatives, to include different units of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of layout configurations in a hospital on the implementation of lean management initiatives, to include different units of care. The research concentrated on the impact, the physical distance between dependent units could have on staff perception, use of staff time, time spent in the system by patients, and performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The research examined the relationship between clinical units allocated within Northampton General Hospital and their internal providers. In addition, an adapted version of the SERVPERF questionnaire was used to measure the quality perception of staff.
Findings
The transit distances from each clinical unit to their internal providers have: a negative relationship with the staff quality provision of care; a positive relationship with the time the patient spends in the system; and no discernable direct correlation with performance.
Practical implications
These findings will help hospital managers to understand the impact of the layout of a hospital on the implementation of service improvement activities, and will assist them in planning improved relocation of clinical units. This facilitates future service improvements whilst optimising the use of available and constrained resources within the present hospital facilities.
Originality/value
The ideas and results presented in this study are original and valuable to the study of hospital layouts, services improvements and the implementation of lean operation initiatives and quality improvement programmes in hospitals. The study also successfully tested the application of SERVPERF in a hospital setting.
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Bushra Mawlood Sabir and Faris Ali Mustafa
This paper aims to investigate the potential role of the Emergency Department (ED) layout in enhancing its functionality. It applies a performance-based building design (PBBD…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the potential role of the Emergency Department (ED) layout in enhancing its functionality. It applies a performance-based building design (PBBD) approach to evaluate emergency department functionality and efficiency as the most important criterion behind the success of the hospital service.
Design/methodology/approach
A quantitative approach based on space syntax theory was adopted through four syntactic maps (isovist, axial, convex, and visibility graph analysis VGA), to depict three case studies in Erbil city hospitals by analyzing three different layout typologies of ED such as Podular, Ballroom and Linear through measuring wayfinding, accessibility, privacy, visibility, time spend-length of stay and corridor circulation as layout factors.
Findings
This paper provides empirical insights on how the ED layout typology factors significantly affect producing functionally efficient EDs, whereas the Ballroom ED layout typology is the most effective compared to others. Given the importance of ED in enhancing a healthy environment for patients and staff, study findings are valuable resource for health designers, who play a critical role in ensuring patients enjoy a healthy and safe environment.
Originality/value
This paper has attempted to identify the appropriate layout of ED for effective functional performance in hospitals. A syntactical analysis between three different ED layout typologies based on the layout variables has been analysed using the PBBD approach. There has been no attempt carried out so far to analyse the functional performance of the PBBD approach in different ED layouts using layout variables.
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Shiran Geng, Hing-Wah Chau, Se Yan, Wenyu Zhang and Chunyang Zhang
Spatial arrangement of hospital environments has been proven to have impacts on hospital users such as wayfinding, privacy and operational efficiency. Many studies examined the…
Abstract
Purpose
Spatial arrangement of hospital environments has been proven to have impacts on hospital users such as wayfinding, privacy and operational efficiency. Many studies examined the spatial quality of hospitals, but there is a lack of comparative research between Chinese and Australian hospitals. Hospitals in both countries have salient features that are worth to learn and can inform hospital stakeholders internationally on design decisions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate and compare the spatial quality of hospitals from both countries using space syntax approach and field observation.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses space syntax analysis and observation to provide qualitative and quantitative data. Illustrative case studies from both countries are selected for comparison. The main benchmarks involved in measuring the spatial qualities, such as step depth and visual connectivity, are analysed using Depthmap X before comparing with the results from observation.
Findings
For Chinese hospitals to be more human-centred, public space design and facility management need additional attention. Australian hospitals could learn from Hospital D on how to design highly centralised nursing stations that cope with a high patient flow. Global policy and decision-makers should consider the potential inconsistency between initial design intention and practical use.
Originality/value
Practical implications were made based on the results for bettering hospital environments. It is hoped that the methodology presented in this research is of significance to the enhancement of global healthcare environment research.
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Nicoletta Setola, Eletta Naldi, Maria Vittoria Arnetoli, Luca Marzi and Roberto Bologna
The Covid-19 pandemic has placed health-care systems and their facilities throughout the world under immense pressure. The pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of health-care…
Abstract
Purpose
The Covid-19 pandemic has placed health-care systems and their facilities throughout the world under immense pressure. The pandemic has highlighted the crucial role of health-care facilities design in looking beyond the ongoing crisis and considering how hospitals can better prepare for unexpected future health situations. This study aims to investigate how hospitals reacted to the crisis in terms of their physical spaces, which architectural features permitted the necessary transformations, and how this data can inform hospital design research in the future.
Design/methodology/approach
The research adopted a qualitative and multi-method approach to case studies. Data was collected directly (field survey and interviews) and indirectly (literature, periodicals, specialised websites, webinars, conferences and forums), and a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats analysis supported the data evaluation.
Findings
Hospitals’ responses to the crisis were guided by a host of variables depending on the specific intervention context and risk scenario. Some key issues emerged as particularly meaningful to drive future research in hospital design, namely, architectural typology, layout and spatial proximities, technological systems, the quality of care spaces, the role of public spaces, facility management tools to drive the transformation, territorial health care networks and new technologies.
Originality/value
The paper suggests that the current crisis can be transformed into an opportunity, in terms of research and innovation, to rethink and improve the quality and efficiency of health-care spaces, restoring their crucial role of promoting health by design.
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Supuck Prugsiganont and Tanut Waroonkun
This study aims to investigate the physical environmental problems of two Thai community hospitals’ outpatient departments (OPDs) during the COVID-19 outbreak and to provide…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to investigate the physical environmental problems of two Thai community hospitals’ outpatient departments (OPDs) during the COVID-19 outbreak and to provide design guidelines for respiratory disease prevention.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-step method was used. The first step involved walk-through observations at Mae Wang Hospital and Doi Saket Hospital to assess the physical environment. The second step consisted of interviews with 22 medical staff working in the two hospitals. Third, the observation and interview data were used to develop a preliminary design guideline, which was evaluated by two focus groups comprising the same interview participants.
Findings
The observational findings showed that the two hospitals had difficulties following the COVID-19 prevention protocol due to physical environmental problems. Four different themes emerged from the analysis of the medical staff interviews. The preliminary design guidelines that were evaluated through two focus group discussions resulted in design recommendations for four areas (the overall building, clinical, support and staff areas) in the Mae Wang and Doi Saket OPD buildings. Three topics of design recommendations were provided to reduce the spread of COVID-19: improving hospital management, space design and air quality.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide design guidelines for COVID-19 and respiratory disease prevention in Thai community hospital OPD buildings.
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Matloub Hussain and Mohsin Malik
– The purpose of this paper is to prioritize 21 healthcare wastes in public and private hospitals of United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to prioritize 21 healthcare wastes in public and private hospitals of United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Design/methodology/approach
Seven healthcare wastes linked with lean management are further decomposed in to sub-criteria and to deal with this complexity of multi criteria decision-making process, analytical hierarchical process (AHP) method is used in this research.
Findings
AHP framework for this study resulted in a ranking of 21 healthcare wastes in public and private hospitals of UAE. It has been found that management in private healthcare systems of UAE is putting more emphasis on the inventory waste. On the other hand, over processing waste has got highest weight in public hospitals of UAE.
Research limitations/implications
The future directions of this research would be to apply a lean set of tools for the value stream optimization of the prioritized key improvement areas.
Practical implications
This is a contribution to the continuing research into lean management, giving practitioners and designers a practical way for measuring and implementing lean practices across health organizations.
Originality/value
The contribution of this research, through successive stages of data collection, measurement analysis and refinement, is a set of reliable and valid framework that can be subsequently used in conceptualization, prioritization of the waste reduction strategies in healthcare management.
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Emma Zijlstra, Mariët Hagedoorn, Wim P. Krijnen, Cees P. van der Schans and Mark P. Mobach
Until now, it is not clear whether there are differences in patient perception between multi-bedded rooms with two and four beds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the…
Abstract
Purpose
Until now, it is not clear whether there are differences in patient perception between multi-bedded rooms with two and four beds. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the physical (i.e. room type) and psychosocial (i.e. kindness of roommates and extraversion) aspects on the patients’ experience (i.e. pleasantness of the room, anxiety, sleep quality) in multi-bedded rooms in an oncology ward.
Design/methodology/approach
A group of 84 hospitalized oncology patients completed a questionnaire on the day of departure. Room types were categorized into two groups: two-person and four-person rooms.
Findings
Multivariate logistic regression analyses with the minimum Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) showed no direct main effects of room type (two vs. four-person room), kindness of roommates and extraversion on pleasantness of the room, anxiety and sleep quality. However, the authors found an interaction effect between room type and extraversion on pleasantness of the room. Patients who score relatively high in extraversion rated the room as more pleasant when they stayed in a four-person rather than a two-person room. For patients relatively low in extraversion, room type was not related to pleasantness of the room.
Practical implications
The findings allow hospitals to better understand individual differences in patient experiences. Hospitals should inform patients about the benefits of the different room types and potential influences of personality (extraversion) so patients are empowered and can benefit from autonomy and the most appropriate place.
Originality/value
This study emphasizes the importance of including four-person rooms in an oncology ward, while new hospital facility layouts mainly include single-bed rooms.
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Matloub Hussain, Mohsin Malik and Hamda S. Al Neyadi
The purpose of this paper is to introduce lean concept to the field of healthcare management, expands the conceptualization of lean management beyond the manufacturing companies…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce lean concept to the field of healthcare management, expands the conceptualization of lean management beyond the manufacturing companies to consider key waste reduction opportunities which are posited to be requisites to lean practices and implements the proposed framework in the three public hospitals in Abu Dhabi.
Design/methodology/approach
This research is designed by decomposing complex and unstructured issue into a set of components organized in a multi-level hierarchical form. To deal with this complexity of multi criteria decision-making process, analytical hierarchical process (AHP) method is used in this research.
Findings
AHP framework for this study resulted in a ranking of 21 healthcare wastes based on the evaluations of local situations by experienced healthcare professionals. It has been found that management in healthcare systems of Abu Dhabi is putting more emphasis on the inventory waste.
Research limitations/implications
The future directions of the research would be to apply a lean set of tools for the value stream optimization of the prioritized key improvement areas.
Practical implications
This is a contribution to the continuing research into lean management, giving practitioners and designers a practical way for measuring and implementing lean practices across health organizations.
Originality/value
The contribution of this research, through successive stages of data collection, measurement analysis and refinement, is a set of reliable and valid framework that can be subsequently used in conceptualization, prioritization of the waste reduction strategies in healthcare management.
Details
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Jori Reijula, Emmi Reijula and Kari Reijula
Hospitals in the developed countries have been subjected to increasing economic pressure. Thus, several hospitals have been forced to improve their production efficiency while…
Abstract
Purpose
Hospitals in the developed countries have been subjected to increasing economic pressure. Thus, several hospitals have been forced to improve their production efficiency while coping with limited resources. This paper aims to illustrate challenges and insight associated with health care (HC) facility design (FD) in two publicly funded hospitals.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, 14 interviewees from two Finnish university hospitals were interviewed. Both hospitals had implemented Lean methods and recently undergone rigorous renovation projects and were seen as ideal study targets.
Findings
Both hospitals had managed to carry out successful indoor environment design. However, logistics, navigation, health information technology, scheduling, budgeting and outsourcing challenges had arisen. An outpatient care approach and customer-driven operational needs are beneficial and guide FD in the target hospitals. Lean thinking offers the necessary fundamental framework for integrating operational design as a part of FD.
Research limitations/implications
Due to the relatively small sample size of the interviewees in this study, post occupancy evaluations in a larger target group should be conducted in the present hospitals. Furthermore, the communication with the interviewees may be considered qualitative due to the research approach based on interviews and content analysis.
Practical implications
Hospital design should focus on developing aesthetic, durable and adaptable facilities that support work processes. The hospital management needs to ensure that architects and designers possess enough HC expertize and are able to interact with clinicians. FD projects should be led and organized more systematically, while project communication between all stakeholders should be more transparent and facilitated by – preferably – a hospital staff member. Furthermore, an organized forum for HC FD should be used for sharing knowledge. The clinicians must be thoroughly oriented to the new work environment and processes.
Originality/value
This paper brings forth numerous crucial challenges and insight related to management of FD in two university hospitals.
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