Computer-aided hospital layout optimization based on patient flow analysis: A case study from China

Abstract

Chinese hospitals face challenges with overwhelming patient flow and efficiency. This study focuses on optimizing the outpatient building layout of a general hospital to reduce patients’ travel distances. Electronic medical records (EMRs) (N = 64,315) were analyzed using process mining and systematic layout planning to understand patient flows. Optimal path planning was then used to simulate travel routes and calculate travel distances. The existing layout was optimized using a genetic algorithm to minimize total travel distance for general patients, high-volume department patients, and those with mobility limitations. The final layout was selected manually considering relocation expense, local building codes and regulations, functional continuity, and design flexibility. The layout effectively met the optimization objectives, reducing total travel distance for general outpatients by 5.84%, high-volume department patients by 4.58%, and limited mobility patients by 1.90%. Additionally, the final layout demonstrates outstanding performance in spatial adjacency, site-building relationship, and flow disturbance reduction. This study proposes a computer-aided design framework to improve outpatient building renovations. Utilizing EMR data with a large sample size, it broadens the research scope, refines travel distance calculation methods, and includes practical architectural indicators for a comprehensive analysis. The novelty of the study lies in integrating the optimal path planning method considering travel costs of a multi-story building into the framework of Hospital Layout Problems (HLPs) based on Patient Flow Analysis (PFA), and incorporating the opinions of stakeholders at various stages of computerized design. The method offers the potential to enhance hospital building performance and efficiency with minimal adjustments to existing structures.