Workloads :

Size the hospital based on expected workload volumes. The number of patients rooms should be decided according to expected annual admissions, the number of operating rooms according to expected surgical caseload, and so on. Workload can be projected form historical statistics in case of existing hospitals or the statistics of a comparable hospitals in case of new projects.

 Space Utilization :

The number of functional units required to meet a certain workload is a function of expected workloads and space throughput. Maximizing space throughput or utilization means lower number of functional units ( theatres, ICU rooms, delivery rooms, CSSD Sterilizers, etc ) for the same workload volume. Space throughput can be optimized in several ways including stretching working hours and accelerating turn around periods between procedures.

 Multiuse of Space :

Multiuse of hospital space can be achieved in two ways either by using the same space for more than one function (for example some offices can be used as seminar rooms, operating theatres can be used for several specialities, chest x rays can be performed in fluoroscopy rooms ), or by sharing spaces over time by different users (for example, physiotherapy pools can be used interchangeably between males and females and clinics can be shared at different times by more than one consultant).

 Centralization :

Centralization always saves on space. However, it may cause problems of distance and workflow. Planners should try to balance the spatial benefits of centralization with functional efficiency. The use of centralized spaces for pharmacy, pathology labs, staff changing, etc together with satellite outlets where necessary can help in saving floor areas and meeting functional proximity requirements at the same time.

 Shared Space :

Many support spaces can be shared efficiently between different departments. Nursing support cores can be arranged to serve more than one ward. Surgical support areas can serve both the main operating rooms and the day case theatres.

 Planning Grid :

Correct choice of the structural grid of the hospital can aid avoid waste area. The type and size of patient rooms, and major spaces such as operating rooms, radiology rooms, etc will determine the appropriate planning grid in a given project.

 Future Expansion :

In many projects, the diagnostic and support areas are sized to cater for the future bed capacity of the hospital. With that much cost involved, one can not afford to build expensive healthacare spaces and leave them to stand still till the bed count is expanded. All hospital departments, and not only the nursing wards, should be planned in a modular & expandable way. Only when expansion is necessary to meet future workload that these department should be expanded.

 Information Technology :

Outlines 10 guidelines that hospital planners should consider when programming hospital space. Although the use of information technology systems in hospitals can save on the floor area of certain spaces such as storage and filing, the substantial impact of information technology on hospital space comes from its potential to optimize the flow of information, patients and materials thus enabling the hospital to process larger workload within the same space boundary.

 Swing beds :

When the occupancy rates of different inpatient wards are not certain or fluctuating, swing beds can be used to optimize bed utilization and avoid long bed turn around periods. Swing beds can simply be located in an area between two or more wards and accessible to each so that the beds can be added to either ward depending on occupancy.

 Intermediate Care Units :

In most hospitals, CCU and ICU beds are often occupied by patients who are not critically ill but whose vital medical signs still need to be observed before discharge ( for example cardiac catheterization patients). Use of intermediate care unitsWith healthcare construction rates exceeding 2500 USD per square meter, hospital space is too expensive to over-size. Right-Sizing the hospital project can save enormous amounts of money in capital and runnig costs. This article outlines 10 guidelines that hospital planners should consider when programming hospital space.