By Healthcare Facilities Today

Healthcare designers can have a hard time convincing clients that space requirements for some functions have increased over the years, according to an article on the Healthcare Facilities Management website.

Most hospitals still have portions of their physical plants that were constructed before the 1970s. Since then, codes and guidelines that affect hospital construction have been issued by the federal government, Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI), International Building Code, National Fire Protection Association, and federal and state departments of health, among others, the article said.

Changes in technical and medical protocols and an increased focus on safety have influenced space needs further. Understanding these changes is key to navigating the effects on the owner and user groups when designing new healthcare spaces, the article said.

While these changes affect nearly all clinical spaces, some key examples are inpatient units, emergency departments and diagnostic imaging areas

Read the article.