Hospital design features that optimise pandemic response.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Infrastructure
• Public Health Preparedness
• Epidemiology

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted gaps in understanding hospital infrastructure's role in pandemic response.
• Existing literature often focuses on generic hospital design or assumes built-in disaster features, lacking real-world pandemic experience.
• The Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) was designated South Australia's primary receiving hospital for the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the lived experience of hospital infrastructure design for pandemic support.
• To detail key pandemic design elements implemented at the RAH.
• To provide lessons learned to guide future hospital design for disaster and pandemic preparedness.

Main Methods:

• Review of the Royal Adelaide Hospital's design specifications initiated in 2007.
• Analysis of real-time operational experience during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
• Description of specific design features including patient room design, air handling, and scalability.

Main Results:

• The RAH incorporated several disaster response infrastructure design features, including patient room design, pandemic air handling, and a 7-step scalability function.
• These features enabled the RAH to function as a resilient facility, continuing core clinical services during the pandemic.
• The RAH's design features were instrumental in supporting its pandemic response and contributing to South Australia's overall success.

Conclusions:

• The RAH's proactive design approach, incorporating specific pandemic-ready infrastructure, proved effective.
• Lessons learned from the RAH's experience can inform the design of future hospitals for enhanced resilience against pandemics and other disasters.
• Integrating adaptable infrastructure is key to maintaining healthcare services during public health crises.