The Built Environment Influence on Resilient Healthcare: A Systematic Literature Review of Design Knowledge

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Design
• Evidence-Based Design
• Built Environment

Background:

• The existing evidence-based design (EBD) literature, while extensive, has not explicitly detailed its contributions to resilient healthcare systems.
• Resilient healthcare is crucial for managing the complexities inherent in modern health services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the EBD literature to develop specific design knowledge for supporting resilient healthcare.
• To bridge the gap between EBD research and the practical needs of creating robust healthcare environments.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• 43 relevant journal papers were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria.
• The selected literature was analyzed using five guidelines for managing complexity.

Main Results:

• A structured body of built environment (BE) design knowledge was developed, organized into four levels: meta-principles, design principles, design prescriptions, and practical examples.
• The compiled knowledge includes 5 design meta-principles, 7 design principles, 21 design prescriptions, and 58 practical examples.
• Emphasis is placed on the interplay between the physical infrastructure of the BE and its supported functions.

Conclusions:

• The developed design knowledge is valuable for architects and functional designers in the healthcare sector.
• It provides a framework for creating healthcare facilities that are better equipped to handle complex health service demands.
• The proposed knowledge template is designed for continuous updating through practitioner experience and academic research.