Overall design and decoration of the hospital

As a significant public space, hospitals have unique interior design and decoration requirements compared to other buildings. The standardization of hospital decoration design necessitates decoration enterprises to adhere strictly to these requirements. Hospital decoration materials also differ from ordinary materials. The following is a detailed analysis of the standardization of hospital decoration design.

1.Hospitals are also consumer places and properties.

People going to the hospital also engage in consumption behaviour due to the principles of a market economy. Medical expenses are high enough to remind people to prioritize physical exercise. Like other buildings, hospitals are a form of property and should be managed according to property management rules.

2.Hospital culture design and CI design.

Following the principle of hospital universality, the design should highlight the unique characteristics of hospitals, emphasizing simplicity, efficiency, humanism, and environmental protection.

3.Barrier-free design.

Design elements such as toilets for the disabled should be set independently with the largest dedicated space. Stairs should have double-conductor handrails for convenience, and instructions for the blind to start and stop. Consideration should be given to impact protection for wheelchair and stretcher car access at elevator doors.

4.Lighting.

Lighting for patients should neither be too bright nor too dim, avoiding glare from lamps. The ideal light colour is one with good colour rendering and a slightly warm hue.

5.Water supply and sewage treatment.

Comprehensive consideration should be given to epidemic prevention requirements, including system selection, pipeline layout, and fittings to ensure water quality and prevent cross-infection. Non-manual switches should be adopted, and sewage should be collected, treated, and reused in a classified manner.

6.Intelligent management system.

The standard version should include 13 basic modules: outpatient service, registration, waiting, billing, hospitalization, inspection, inquiry, cost accounting, medical record and personnel management, nurse station management, etc. The placement of facilities should be reasonable, their colour coordinated with the environment, and appliances uniformly designed and concealed where possible.

7.Intelligent building control.

This includes air conditioning, computer stations, LAN, multimedia, telemedicine systems, general control rooms, elevators, gas detection systems, call intercoms, integrated wiring, safety monitoring, fire control, communication systems, cable TV, garbage, and water treatment systems. Decorative style and materials should be harmonized with the original facilities and environment, adjusting any exposed parts with suppliers before installation if necessary.

8.Professional logo design.

The text, patterns, and colour identification should be eye-catching and clear. Different departments can use distinct colours that are elegant and harmonious. Pay attention to the comparison between Chinese and foreign languages, styles, positions, colours, shapes, textures, and decorations. There are three types of logo designs:
- Outdoor: Includes guide signs for individual buildings, road guidance, and orientation signs for hospital service facilities across the entire hospital area.
- Floors: Encompasses the general plan of indoor functions, functional plans for each floor, and identification required by national regulations (e.g., fire passages, entrances, and exits).
- Department Units: Comprises door and window plates for medical units, signs for public service facilities, and special markings as stipulated by industry standards.

Consideration of different functional spaces

In the architectural design process, careful consideration of different functional spaces is essential for creating a cohesive and efficient layout.

1.Parking Lots

It is preferable for the parking lot to be in the basement of the outpatient building and to utilize a mechanical parking system. Additionally, the ground parking lot should include designated spaces for taxis and streamlined entrances and exits.

2.Outpatient Hall

The outpatient hall serves as the intersection of various hospital services and is typically the most densely populated public area. As per the current general hospital construction standards, the number of patients should ideally be three times the number of beds in the hospital, with an average area of 60-64 square meters per bed. The outpatient department's area typically accounts for around 15% of the total building area of the hospital.
The layout of the outpatient hall should feature several interconnected halls, with clear distinctions between traffic and waiting areas to facilitate efficient organization and flow of people. Incorporating natural lighting, ventilation, shared spaces, and skylights can enhance the overall ambiance and user experience.
Key functionalities within the outpatient hall include registration, payment of fees, dispensing of medications, and provision of seating with appropriate railings. Window heights should be lower than usual, around 1050mm, for accessibility.
Additionally, installing large screens for displaying relevant information and transitioning from standing to sitting services can further improve the overall functionality and comfort of the outpatient hall.

The business processing desk should be equipped with an adequate number of row chairs and call servers to facilitate call services using sound and light cues. The row chairs should be changed from hard to soft, and in some cases, they can be replaced with sofas for added comfort. Apart from the cash trading desk, other business desks should also consider the use of metal fences and large glass partitions where applicable. Walls and columns can be constructed using stone or metal plates for a durable and aesthetic finish.

3.Waiting Room

The waiting room should have direct external lighting and ventilation, considering that patients in large general hospitals typically spend about an hour waiting here. It is preferable to avoid having patients wait face to face on both sides of the corridor to reduce any potential psychological discomfort caused by strangers looking at each other. Additionally, it's beneficial to have a separate clinic designated for drug pricing.

4. Public Toilet

In public toilets, it's recommended to have doorless designs to mitigate line of sight interference. Additionally, a dedicated cleaning room should be established to keep cleaning tools out of sight from patients. For urinals, it's advisable to avoid the previous step. To enhance comfort, toilets should be designed for sitting and squatting, with the ground and toilet on the same level. Each toilet should have two toilet paper covers, and sanitary ware should include handrails and hooks on partition walls of a certain height. Inductive faucets, urinals, and toilets are preferable. Hand dryers should be available for wiping toilet paper. Signage indicating when to wash hands should be prominently displayed.
Smooth block materials can be used for wall surfaces to reduce wide joints, with special joint sealants for durability. Tempered glass with back baking paint is also suitable. Stone or floor tiles measuring 500 × 500mm are preferable for the ground, avoiding large blocks that hinder drainage. Partitions can be constructed using Max board and assembled on-site.

5. Nursing Unit

The nursing unit accommodates four main activity groups: patients, nurses, medical personnel, and visitors. The nurse platform should be 760mm high, allowing for comfortable interaction between doctors, patients, and staff. Consider reserving a portion of the 1100/760mm double-deck table for this purpose. Integrated wiring should be carefully coordinated with the nurse station for efficient connectivity.

Stone materials can be chosen for the nurse platform surface, with internal rubber plate veneers. PVC or rubber blocks are suitable for the ground, and anti-pollution carpeting can also be considered.
Additionally, ensure that there are independent toilets for patients and a sitting shower room. The medical staff room should be segregated from the ward for privacy and functionality.

6.Emergency Room

The emergency room design should consider the varying needs of different departments within it. For example, the gynecology and obstetrics department require strong privacy, while the surgical trauma treatment room deals with more pollutants. Other clinics within the emergency room can be designed as open types.
To separate these departments, movable hanging screens and pull curtains can be utilized. The power supply should be grounded, and multiple sockets on the walls are essential for equipment. Materials used should be impact resistant and washable for hygiene.
The nurse station and service desk should be at a height of 760mm to facilitate comfortable communication between doctors and patients. Anti-collision corner guards should be installed at all external corners to ensure safety.

7. CT and Xray Room

The CT and X-ray room is crucial for ensuring radiation protection standards are met. Lead plates are chosen based on the lead equivalent recommended by the equipment manufacturer, and these plates are typically compounded onto the back of aluminium plates.
To further enhance radiation protection, walls (excluding doors and windows) can be covered overhead with sleek aluminium plates. Care must be taken to address any protection holes resulting from fixing screw holes, preferably using adhesive types. The door made of lead plates should be decorated with rubber for added safety. Typically, there's no radiation protection requirement in the vertical direction, allowing for the use of aluminium gusset plate ceilings.