Ransolin, N; Saurin, T A; Clay-Williams, R; Formoso, C T; Rapport, F and Cartmill, J (2025) Beyond the operating room: Built environment design knowledge supportive of resilient surgical services. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 32(6), pp. 3804-3831. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Surgical services are settings where resilient performance (RP) is necessary to cope with a wide range of variabilities. Although RP can benefit from a supportive built environment (BE), prior studies have focused on the operating room, giving scant attention to support areas. This study takes a broader perspective, aiming at developing BE design knowledge supportive of RP at the surgical service as a whole. Design/methodology/approach: Seven BE design prescriptions developed in a previous work in the context of internal logistics of hospitals, and thus addressing interactions between workspaces, were used as a point of departure. The prescriptions were used as a data analysis framework in a case study of the surgical service of a medium-sized private hospital. The scope of the study included surgical and support areas, in addition to workflows involving patients and family members, staff, equipment, sterile instruments and materials, supplies, and waste. Data collection included document analysis, observations, interviews, and meetings with hospital staff. Findings: Results identified 60 examples of using the prescriptions, 77% of which were related to areas other than the operating rooms. The developed design knowledge is framed as a set of prescriptions, examples, and their association to workflows and areas, indicating where it should be applied. Originality/value: The design knowledge is new in surgical services and offers guidance to both BE and logistics designers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | built environment; design; resilience; surgical services |
| Index terms: | data analysis, interview, methodology, workflow, case study, designer, workspace, document analysis, built environment, prescription, variability, interaction |
| Subjects: | medical science and clinical practice, research methods, behavioral psychology, data collection methods, profession, data science, data analysis and analytics, management, infrastructure and transport systems, statistical analysis |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Business Strategy, Research Practice, Stakeholder Management, Roles and Professions, Urban Studies |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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