The COVID-19 pandemic has required health care institutions to take extraordinary steps to protect the safety of patients and staff, including significant adjustments to their operations and care models that prioritize infection control and containment. Facility capital planning has been impacted by decreased revenues. Investment decisions must generate returns against new criteria, including changing requirements for safe patient flow and throughput, patient/caregiver interaction, and logistics protocols and processes.
We must design to enable quality of care and flexibility in facilities to keep residents and caregivers safe from this novel virus and future potential threats while balancing design solutions that protect and promote the social and mental wellness of residents and staff.