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A Chronological Study on the Transformation and the Spatial Characteristics of Inpatient Care Facilities in the United States

  • JOURNAL OF THE KOREA INSTITUTE OF HEALTHCARE ARCHITECTURE
  • Abbr : KIHA
  • 2017, 23(3), pp.57-69
  • DOI : 10.15682/jkiha.2017.23.3.57
  • Publisher : Korea Institute Of Healthcare Architecture
  • Research Area : Engineering > Architectural Engineering
  • Published : September 15, 2017

Lee, Sukyung 1 Yoon Kyung Choi 1

1중앙대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This study aims to emphasize interrelation between healthcare policies, design standards and hospital architecture of the United States since 1950s; to examine spatial characteristics of inpatient care facilities through case studies; and to consider the social implication of these spatial changes. Methods: In this study, reviewing the overall healthcare system, design standards and inpatient care facilities of the United States since 1950s, a total of five inpatient care facilities, one for each period, were selected in order to analyze the spatial characteristics. The spatial maps of Space Syntax were employed for analyzing five case studies. Results: The distance between the nursing station, the support service, and inpatient room were getting closer. The spatial structure of inpatient care facilities is transformed from tree structures to annular tree structures. This result shows that the efficiency between patient, staff and support service is higher and the depth of the spaces is getting deeper, which indicates that efficiency for improving healthcare quality affect the spatial structure of inpatient care facilities. Implications: In the future, if Korea's health policy is changed to a demand-oriented health care policy, this conclusion predicts medical planning of hospital will be focused on the efficiency.

Citation status

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