Two Decades (1993-2012) of Adult Intensive Care Unit Design

Abstract

In 2006, Critical Care Nursing Quarterly published a study of the physical design features of a set of best-practice example adult intensive care units (ICUs) [1]. These adult ICUs were awarded between 1993 and

A comparison of private and public sector intensive care unit infrastructure in South Africa

“…Public sector ICUs did not comply with many of the R158 requirements. Adequate spacing between beds is an important aspect of patient care and infection control, [1,9] and the majority of ICUs in our setting did not meet this requirement. The IUSS guidelines that currently apply to public hospitals stipulate greater spacing requirements (20 or 25 m 2 , depending on the level of care) than the R158 regulations.…”

“…Furthermore, appropriately designed ICUs can affect patient and staff satisfaction and stress levels. [1] It is therefore imperative that ICUs adhere to infrastructure and design guidelines.…”

“…However, a clinical hand-wash basin in these rooms is essential for maintaining good infection control standards, and is recommended in international guidelines. [1,9] Shortage of sinks and inconveniently located sinks have been reported as barriers to hand hygiene by healthcare workers. [16] Clinical hand-wash basins have been designed to minimise the risk of recontamination after handwashing, and it is therefore important that the dirty utility room and staff rest room have clinical handwash basins.…”

“…[9] Single-bed rooms with decentralised nursing stations are better than multiple-bedded units in terms of infection control, and are also less disruptive to the nursing care of patients. [1] Since ICUs have a 1:1 nurse/ patient ratio, we advocate for nurse stations to be located at the patient bedside, with a conveniently located administrative station in the ICU.…”

Is it possible to feel at home in a patient room in an intensive care unit? Reflections on environmental aspects in technology‐dense environments

“…However, it was not until the end of the Second World War that dedicated units for trauma and postoperative care were established in the UK and the United States, initiated by developments in anaesthesia and technology (in Fairman, ). In modern times, The American Society for Critical Care Medicine has, since 1993, awarded hospitals for their efforts in enhancing the design of the ICU environment (Rashid, ). Patient room size and design, support and service area layout and family space design are all various aspects that have been considered.…”