• Sanitation and hygiene

The increasing need to reduce the rates of hospital-borne infections and the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria means that healthcare design needs to incorporate more sanitation and hygiene opportunities in hospitals. There have been several changes made in hospitals to reduce the spread of microbes, notably, the introduction of wall-mount hand sanitising dispensers and hospital washbasins.

• The growth of Telemedicine

Telemedicine is another trend that has seen steep growth in hospitals mainly due to the Covid pandemic. This technology allows doctors and other healthcare professionals to treat patients suffering from non-life-threatening conditions through chats and video calls. This helps to reduce the overall number of patients visiting hospitals.

• Patient and family experience

Caregivers need to create a satisfying experience for their patients. This mainly depends on the patient’s interaction with the health professionals as well as the built environment. Healthcare design can achieve this by building patient rooms with privacy in mind so that patients can feel comfortable discussing personal health issues with their caregivers.

• Embracing Modular Construction

The strain imposed by the pandemic on the health sector meant that some of the changes and renovations needed to be done promptly. A shift towards modular construction can assist in achieving these goals. We have already seen how modular healthcare facilities played an important role throughout the pandemic as they were used to handle the large influx of patients during this period and were constructed quickly.

Modular construction offers several essential benefits to the healthcare sector, particularly in its ability to quickly adapt to changing needs and its cost-effectiveness. Here’s how it’s proving crucial:

• Speed of Construction:

Modular buildings are primarily constructed offsite in a controlled factory setting, which significantly speeds up the construction process. This is crucial for the healthcare sector, especially when there is an urgent need for additional facilities, like during health emergencies or natural disasters.

• Flexibility and Scalability:

Modular units can be designed to be expandable and reconfigurable, which allows healthcare facilities to adapt to changing technologies, patient loads, and services without the need for extensive renovations.

• Reduced Disruption:

Since much of the construction is done offsite, the installation of modular units typically causes minimal disruption to ongoing healthcare operations. This is a significant advantage in environments where quiet and order are necessary for patient care.

• Cost-Effectiveness:

Modular construction can be more cost-effective compared to traditional construction due to the efficiencies of factory production and the reduced construction time. The shorter construction timeline also means healthcare services can be operational sooner, generating revenue earlier than with traditional construction methods.

• Sustainability:

Modular construction reduces waste and typically uses more sustainable materials. The ability to reuse and repurpose modules for different needs also contributes to reducing the environmental impact, aligning with the growing emphasis on sustainability in healthcare.

• Response to Health Crises:

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the role of modular construction in quickly providing emergency healthcare facilities, such as pop-up testing stations and temporary treatment centres. This rapid deployment capability is crucial for addressing immediate healthcare needs during crises.