[Problems of modernization of historic hospitals]

Adapting buildings and the technical infrastructure of hospitals to the requirements of modern technology, workflow and legal regulations is a difficult and costly process. A proper plan, taking into account the necessary changes, has a significant influence on the future functioning of the hospital. The assumptions and priorities of the project determine the quality of services provided in the future. The modernization process is more complicated when it concerns hospital complexes with a historic pedigree. Combining functionality, modernity and efficiency while retaining historical features is a difficult undertaking: Decisions must be made basing on a thorough analysis. Of the 70 hospitals in Lower Silesia, 23 are historic structures. The majority of them do not meet the demands of modern medical technology and workflow, or the requirements of the Ministry of Health. The subject of modernization of historic hospital facilities is a very important contemporary topic, but is subjected to very little research. The work presented is one phase of a larger study intending to develop model solutions for the optimization of design processes in the modernization of a historic hospital.