Discussion: Leverage principles of sustainable health care

How would you leverage principles of sustainable health care, Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), “green” design, etc., when designing or renovating an existing health care facility?

Reading for this question is below

The topics and objectives for Week Five focus on future trends in health care. The desired outcome is a comprehensive understanding of what impact the trends have on future designs in an iterative process. The trend areas include, but are not limited to, technology, cultural and generational needs and demands, global health care facility design, and the effect of design on health care personnel. Learners should be able to demonstrate, analyze, synthesize, and evaluate health care facility requirements by integrating concepts from prior academic weeks. Architecture reflects a society’s values, philosophical outlook, and changing directions in technology. Design teams are beginning to use evidence-based design to create creative environments based on research. They are using critical thinking skills to develop appropriate solutions to design problems.

1.Health Care Facility Planning Trends

a.Describe technology, equipment, and design elements that will support a sustainable health care facility of future.

1)Technological considerations

a)Electronic medical records

b)Computerized physician order entry

c)Personal digital assistants

d)High-speed communication networks

e)Wireless technology

f)E-health

(1)For patient and family interaction, such as preadmission, scheduling, disease management

(2)Physician interaction, such as credentialing, referrals, continuing education

(3)Employee interaction, including recruitment, benefits information, and enrollment

(4)Payer interaction, such as claims processing and verifying benefits eligibility

(5)Vendor and supplier interaction

(6)May result in new and different processes

2)Equipment

a)Telemedicine

b)Robotics

(1)Minimally invasive surgery

c)Diagnostic radiology

d)Treatment radiology

e)Nuclear medicine

3)Design elements

a)Sustainability

(1)Healing gardens

(2)Natural lighting

(3)Renewable materials (flooring, walls, and other surfaces)

(4)Décor and Artwork

b.Design a community-based sustainable health care facility or that address the needs of a community based on demographics

1)Analysis of alternative sustainability initiatives

2)Current and projected community demographics

3)Evidence based medicine/design considerations

4)LEED & Green Design Certifications

5)Sustainability Considerations

6)Life-cycle funding

7)Punch-list and operational capability

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