Impact of the Physical Environment on ICU Patient Transport: A Scoping Review

Objectives: This scoping review aims to investigate the role of the physical environment on intrahospital transport (IHT) for intensive care unit (ICU) patients and to understand how it interacts with various work system factors. Background: ICU patients often require IHT for diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, which is associated with increased risks of adverse events, morbidity, and mortality. However, the literature on healthcare architecture rarely considers how the physical environment may contribute to these outcomes. Methods: This review systematically searched five databases, including PubMed, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, and Web of Science. Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework guided the keywords selection. Results: The review included 15 articles. The role of the physical environment on IHTs for ICU patients was grouped into categories including ICU patient rooms, corridors, elevators, receiving departments, unit layouts, and overall hospital layouts. Conclusions: The findings suggest that optimizing environmental design can significantly enhance patient and staff safety, and transport efficiency. Future research should focus on addressing the identified gaps, employing more robust methodologies, and exploring innovative design solutions to improve IHT outcomes in ICU settings.