Emerging Design Trends in Healthcare Accessibility, Safety & Security
By Mansoor Ali
Hospitals are the most complex types of institutions in terms of design and architecture. Hence, the intervention of expert healthcare consultants proves to be a necessity in making the hospital interesting and viable.
Healthcare architecture is ever developing and changing to meet the demands of the profession and need for patient-centric design.
Healthcare institutions must not only diagnose and treat patients, solve administrative and economic tasks, provide comfortable conditions for patients, but also respond to various fire safety standards, sanitary and epidemiological requirements.
9 things to remember in a Hospital Design
An experienced and skilled Hospital Architect in India ensures if all essential solutions are considered while building the healthcare facility keeping in mind, both the people working in it as well as the patients/visitors. There are many ways to design and construct a building for a wide range of patient care needs.
Hygiene: Research has shown that 75-90% of all hospital acquired infections are passed on by hand-borne transmission. Reducing the spread of bacteria and viruses is of utmost importance in hospitals. dormakaba offers touchless access solutions, hands-free door pulls and antimicrobial coatings to help prevent the spread of germs and improve infection control. Door hardware is one of the most touched surfaces in any facility. Door hardware with an antimicrobial coating can make a big difference by inhibiting the growth of microbes on high-touch surfaces. Antimicrobial hardware reduces the spread of infectious bacteria and lowers the risk of infection. Additionally, automatic openings operated by touchless actuators minimizes the spread of hand-to-hand infection.
Fire protection: Healthcare institutions are designed to protect occupants by defending in place, rather than evacuation. While Active Fire Protection is irreplaceable, the role of Passive Fire Protection systems is indispensable. Hence the selection process for fire rated doors and hardware is critical and can save lives. In a healthcare institution, the likelihood of having to totally evacuate a building is rare, but the possibility still exists. dormakaba has many dependable solutions for this too.
Air pressure control: These doors are essential for areas where control of air leakage is essential. dormakaba today provides many solutions aiding this critical aspect.
Noise reduction: Sleep is a critical aspect of recovery. Often, patients cannot sleep well in the hospital due to the constant opening and closing of doors and the noise of appliances. Noisy environments increase stress levels for patients. Reducing transmission of noise is very critical and attention to this can satisfy the needs of patients and make visitors feel comfortable and safe. dormakaba offers time tested door closers, rugged, reliable door seals, and many solutions to support quieter patient rooms, lounges etc.
Traffic: Speed is crucial in a hospital, where decisions need to be lightning fast and response times can be the difference between life and death. This may require the doors in the corridors to be open in normal circumstances and mandate closing in case of a fire incident or emergency demanding evacuation. It is important that the hospital is designed for optimal speed and efficiency, without compromising on hygiene, durability, and life-safety. An example could be cross-corridor openings found in many areas of a hospital. These doors are subject to more use and abuse than almost any other openings in a medical facility. These doors may demand excessive maintenance if it is not configured with the right hardware, even costly replacement can become an obstruction. Integrated solutions from dormakaba can prove very handy on such applications.
X-ray and Laser protection: In many cases, lead-lined doors are a necessity in hospitals to shield patients and staffs from radiation produced by X-ray machines and other imaging equipment. This risk can be eliminated with lead found in radiation shielded doors. The addition of Lead increases the weight of the doors and demands special attention on the type of hardware being used. The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements dictates standards for protection against radiation. As a requirement, any door meant to protect against radiation should bear a label with its lead thickness.
Access control for staff equipment and beds: Many health facilities are concerned with wander management and patient monitoring. From simple key locks to electronic access, identifying a facility’s security needs is most important. To prevent unauthorized movement of minors, dementia patients and patients under surveillance, a facility may utilize self-closing, selectively secure doors with automatic locks that initiate when a banded patient approaches. This allows free movement of authorized staff and visitors.
Patient rooms: Patient room doors should provide privacy and safety for a patient during a hospital stay. They must be easily accessible for hospital staff as they carry medical supplies or quickly move across the room. The use of hospital latches makes it easier for patients/staff members to operate doors by pushing or pulling the latch with their forearms or elbow and are Barrier Free. In healthcare design, staff toilet rooms differ from patient toilet rooms because if someone falls against the door and blocks it, emergency rescue hardware allows the door to swing out.
Accessibility: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is an American Law dealing with the civil rights of individuals with disabilities. Architects, designers, and contractors are required to abide by all sections of the ADA. The requirements are:
Different Door Types (Entrance, Interior, Gates, etc.).
Manoeuvring Clearance Requirements.
ADA Door Handle Requirements (Height of Hardware, etc.).
Door Opening and Closing Requirements.
Hospitals have specific types of requirements for the various doors on their properties. Bathrooms are especially particular, and there are ADA requirements regarding door hardware that must be adhered to. All public spaces are required to meet ADA, especially regarding places of work.
We understand the unique demands of healthcare facilities
We know the intricacies of keeping a healthcare facility up and running to design unique, efficient, and most importantly, safe patient experiences. We have specialized hospital solutions that meet the demands of all areas of healthcare facilities.
dormakaba offers numerous design solutions for healthcare facilities as well as various hygienic touch solutions.
You can reach out to dormakaba here
Author:
Mansoor Ali, National Key Accounts Manager, dormakaba