HCS 446 WEEK 3 FACILITY PLANNING PART II

Human factors are a serious reason to approach building design from several different angles. Understanding regulatory requirements will help the planning team meet the different codes required to build or remodel. Color selection and noise control affect the environment for both patients and employees so this must be selected carefully to impact the health and wellness of those who are interacting in the health care space. Purchasing the correct the equipment for the space and the employees to use on a daily basis is imperative to the budget of the facility planning process. Identifying the stakeholders and how to effectively plan the development of the project so the stakeholders are involved and invested provides a stable foundation to plan from. Regulatory Requirements

Building a hospital takes funding, time, patience, and understanding of the regulatory requirements by many different federal and state agencies. Guidelines and building codes have been created to ensure that the space to be built out or remodeled has the appropriate safety, fire protection and health protection. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has regulatory requirements to ensure that buildings provide safe access for disabled employees and patients. The Federal Drug Administration has regulations that touch the food and drug portions of the facility planning. Also the state that the building is in will have regulations and building codes that must be followed along the building process. Some of the items that will be addressed during planning and building are air quality, solid and hazardous waste, radiation controls, public and environmental health, and water safety. Color Selection and Noise

Color choice when planning new construction or a remodel is important to create a calming and healing environment. When choosing color there are several factors that must be taken into consideration such as the age of the patient, ethnicity, satisfaction, health care outcome, and the staff’s reaction are all things to consider. The Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), a program of the National Institute of Building Sciences states, “Healthcare facilities are designed not only to support and facilitate state-of-the-art medicine and technology, patient safety, and quality patient care, but to also embrace