RESEARCH
international organisations and agencies through the most representative documents on the topic of quality of physical resources in health: El Programa Nacional de Garantía de Calidad en la Atención Médica (PNGCAM), El Instituto Técnico para la Acreditación de Establecimientos de Salud (ITAES), The American Institute of Architects (AIA), Kaiser Permanente (KP), The International Standard Organization (ISO), The Joint Commission International (JCI), The International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQua), and The Research Center of Health Facility Planning (CIRFS). One of the achievements of this first
project is the recognition of twelve variables linked to quality physical resources in health. These twelve variables are classified as ‘necessary’ and ‘recommended’.
The ‘necessary’ variables stand out for their specific and concrete nature: l Comprehensiveness. l Accessibility. l Functionality. l Flexibility. l Humanisation. l Sustainability. l Safety. l Conservation.
The ‘recommended’ variables stand out for their theoretical-conceptual nature: l The interdisciplinary process. l The continuous improvement of the quality of healthcare.
l The development of quality standards in healthcare.
l The development of quality Indicators in healthcare.
2. The quality requirements for the accreditation of health facilities (UBACyT Project 2014-2017) In this project, the variables selected in the previous project are described and developed, and the concepts of ‘accreditation’ and ‘certification’ are incorporated. In this context, it recognises the need
for a specific certification tool that would allow, once the hospital is accredited, to evaluate the quality of the health service’s physical resources. To this end, the research is oriented, based on the variables defined in the previous project, to the development of a tool for a service certification in already accredited hospitals. The first service selected for the
research was the outpatient care service. The Certification Manual: Outpatient Care Services was developed as a consequence. The objective of the manual is to evaluate: a) the architecture; b) the installations; and c) the equipment of the service, through the study of the variables selected as ‘necessary’.
IFHE DIGEST 2026
Figure 1. Structure of the Manuals. The Introduction:
The introduction to the fundamentals of the Manual.
The Configuration of the Manual:
Presentation of the structure based on the ‘Necessary Variables’: 1) Comprehensiveness 2) Accessibility; 3) Functionality; 4) Flexibility; 5) Humanisation; 6) Sustainability; 7) Safety; 8) Conservation (all variables are broken down into sub-variables as needed).
For each variable and sub-variable:
l Requirements: Determination of the specific attributes and definition of the characteristics.
l Requirement Clarification: Clarification and/or explanation of the requirement.
l Collection Method: Specifies the method of collecting information to meet the requirements.
Glossary Bibliography In parallel with the development of the
manual, The Evaluation Matrices were also developed as a guide to be used during the evalua0tion of a service. The Evaluation Matrices help the specialised surveyor gather the required information during the service interview.
3. The certification of the physical resources in healthcare services of accredited hospitals (UBACyT Project 2018-2022) Based on the precedent manual, The Certification Manual: Outpatient Care Services, its structure was used as a basis for the development of two other new manuals and evaluation matrices: The Certification Manual: Surgical Center and The Certification Manual: Intensive Care Unit, both corresponding to two services with high technological dynamics.
4. The certification of physical resource in health of accredited hospitals: the inpatient care service (for adults) (PIA Project 2023-2025)
This project aims to continue the research carried out in the 2018-2020 UBACyT Project by developing The Certification Manual: Inpatient Care Services. This service has a considerable impact on the humanisation/supporting environment factors due to its large volume compared to other services.
5. The certification of physical resources in health, of accredited hospitals: the emergency departments (PIA Project 2025-2027)
This project is currently ongoing. The fifth service selected is the emergency department; the project continues the same lines of research by developing The Certification Manual: The Emergency Departments.
Results – presentation of the manuals Although the outpatient care service was one of the first manuals developed, its structure and content have changed over the years; every new research project meant rethinking and updating the previously developed manuals. (Fig 1) The study of ‘the humanisation
variable’ in the context refers to the achievement of a more supportive environment that takes into consideration the wellbeing, dignity, and emotional needs of all people. The variable comprises the following sub-variables: i) a sensory-stimulating environment; ii) wellbeing; and iii) privacy. The research paper Las Condicionantes Ambientales y de Humanización de los Espacios en el Desarrollo de los Recursos Físicos en Salud (2006-2009) by Dr. Arq. Astrid- María Debuchy was used as a reference for this analysis (Fig 2). (i) A sensory-stimulating environment:
This sub-variable refers to the user’s perception and experience through each of the senses. The following are recognised: colour’, ‘lighting’ (natural and artificial), ‘sounds’, and ‘smells’. (ii) Wellbeing: This sub-variable refers
Figure 2. Environmental Factors that Stimulate the Senses by Dr Astrid-María Debuchy.
to how different external stimuli affect users’ emotions and positively influence them. The following are recognised:
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