POST-PANDEMIC DESIGN


General Hospital: Dr. Teodoro Álvarez, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Author: University Career in Health Facility Planning CIRFS/FADU/UBA. Figure 1. Functional system analysis delimitation of services.


operating rooms for surgical treatments) and ‘complementary zones’ where the activities that support and complement the main activity are carried out (Fig 2). This analysis allows for detecting problems in the location, interrelations, proximity, or distance between the different parts of the service. With a clear understanding of these areas, it will be easier to determine possible expansions or renovations in response to changes in service demand. The study of the interrelation between


different services allows us to observe which services are expected to expand in the short term, considering future trends. Based on a comprehensive analysis of the facility and its surroundings, it will be relevant to observe whether the facility has planned for future external expansions, with all the necessary support for their prompt activation, execution times, and start-up time so they can operate integrated with the hospital without detriment to existing facility.


Circulation system The circulation system will analyse the movement of patients (both outpatient and inpatient), family members or visitors, health workers, and supply/processing, along with the access points and the facility’s relationship with its surroundings (Fig 3). Considering its physical and morphological characteristics, it will be necessary to take note of the existing planning around the health centre. This includes how patients and health workers access the facility, which is crucial when facing a health crisis that involves a sudden increase in patients. These access points can quickly become congested or obstructed. Vehicle accessibility involves two


systems that should be studied separately: public and private transportation. First, how each of them accesses the facility and the proximity to the different public transit nodes will be observed. It will also be necessary to study how ambulances


access the facility, ensuring no intersections are in their routes. Potential ‘architectural barriers’


regarding pedestrian access should be identified. Whether pedestrian or vehicular, access to the facility should be done quickly and safely, promoting the patient’s physical and psychological well-being, with clearly marked lighting and signage. It will be observed if the access and exit


routes for patients and the control of access to the facility are clearly identified. Good signage and a quick understanding of how to reach the different services will facilitate the movement of patients and health workers. The location of main circulations, both


vertical and horizontal, is essential in the design of a health facility. It should be analysed whether these are strategically located to quickly move patients with different pathologies to the various levels of complexity within the hospital structure. Restriction levels should also be considered. A safer hospital has a


General Hospital: Dr. Teodoro Álvarez, Pavilion ‘A’, City of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Author: University Career in Health Facility Planning CIRFS/FADU/UBA. Figure 2. Functional system analysis: 'functional units' (solid colour) and 'complementary zones' (striped colour).


IFHE DIGEST 2025 67


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