Assessment of healthcare buildings in terms of spatial requirements in disaster cases together with healthcare professionals: Adana city hospital emergency department during the Covid-19 pandemic

Abstract

From the past to the present, various pandemics have affected societies to varying degrees, leading to changes in various fields such as social, cultural, and architectural aspects. In this context, the study examines the specific arrangements for the COVID-19 pandemic in the emergency department of a city hospital, conducted in January 2022. The aim is to develop a methodology for questioning the emergency department based on evidence and experience regarding flexibility, spatial adequacy, space organization, and isolation in extraordinary situations such as pandemics and to provide design input for the future. For this purpose, a questionnaire form and a space evaluation form were created. In order to benefit from field experiences, a survey form was administered to 137 healthcare professionals working in the emergency department who are directly affected by spatial design. The authors, who are architects, evaluated the space of the emergency department by filling out the “space evaluation form.” The findings were evaluated comparatively.The study found that the emergency department's spatial performance was adequate in terms of evaluations related to flexibility, spatial adequacy, and spatial organization but inadequate in terms of evaluations related to isolation. The design elements causing this situation were discussed. The aim is that the findings obtained will be data for hospital managers and designers in the design of future emergency services and the organization of existing emergency services.