Toolkit for healthcare facility design evaluation - some case studies

Abstract

Service delivery in the healthcare sector is profoundly affected by the built infrastructure provided to support it. In order for a hospital environment to function optimally, a key question is, is the infrastructure "fit for purpose"? This is notoriously difficult to evaluate but, this paper argues, there would be much to be gained from a systematic, reliable and replicable framework for doing so. Internationally, some design evaluation toolkits specifically for healthcare facilities have been developed in an attempt to do just this. Are these methods appropriate in the South African context? Could such a toolkit play a role in enhancing hospital architecture? After a broad literature review, the AEDET, QIND and NSW HFG Post-occupancy Evaluation contemporary evaluation methods (British, Dutch and Australian respectively) were applied to a selected public healthcare facility in Limpopo Province, Mokopane Hospital. A comparison between the different toolkits reveals some differences, and some common themes in approach. Further study is indicated, but preliminary research shows that, whilst these toolkits can be applied to the South African context, there are compelling reasons for them to be adapted. This paper briefly outlines these three case studies, some preliminary conclusions about which aspects are most promising, and identifies areas for further research and development.