A holistic approach to ward design

 This article seeks not only to examine standards of care worldwide, but also to highlight existing management practice in the effective use of healing spaces to ensure sufficient flexibility and capacity for multi-functional use. It also considers experience of building new healthcare facilities, with a strong focus on issues and practices in Iran, and examines the treatment methods deployed by Iranian physicians and the prevalence of regional and local diseases. Also spotlighted is the degree to which the country’s existing financial and scientific capacity will define the take-up of technology in Iranian hospitals. We also take into consideration the fact that, when designing and planning new hospital accommodation, not only do the particular identity, culture and customs of each region need to be carefully considered, but also the country’s communication systems and requirements, and the need to create as “patient-friendly” a healthcare environment as possible. The latter goal can normally only be effectively achieved by tailoring hospital facilities to reflect local cultures and customs. Thorough consideration of all these areas should naturally result in an improved standard of hospital accommodation and optimised use of hospital space. In this article we will attempt to give appropriate guidance on how to best design the patient care unit and wards, among the most important parts of any hospital. In Iran, hospitals are built according to European culture and standards. Indeed Iranian and oriental culture and customs have not generally featured in the design of the country’s healthcare facilities.

Studies’ impact

In recent years, architects, consultant engineers, and different private and governmental organisations, have taken strong account of the data produced in studies on hospital design. This data, and the resulting conclusions, have formed the content of many academic thesis dissertations for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD degrees. In such academic papers, the subject of inpatient departments as one part of an overall hospital is often debated, and the relevant regulations, standards, plans, and key trends examined. Often, however, hospital design tends only to be examined from a functional, and rather general, perspective. This is despite the fact that one of the most important considerations, when designing today’s medical environment, is the need for sensitive and considerate treatment towards patients and its effect on the healing process. (Shad pour, 1993). According to the information we have available, there have however, to date, been no specific studies compiled on planning the physical accommodation for inpatient departments (where the patient spends most time), and specifically the obstetrics and gynaecology wards. This article seeks to address this issue and to present, finally, some patterns as an efficient plan for obstetrics and gynaecology wards. A brief glance through history suggests that buildings constructed to serve the public not only maintain their intrinsic value over time but, with sensitive adaptation, readily accommodate changes that enable them to cater for new clinical needs. A huge amount of capital, not to mention design input, data collection, time and manpower, is required to build, equip and maintain a hospital, while social, financial, cultural, climatic and other issues all also need to be taken into account, all adding to the architect’s task.