Abstract
Purpose: It seems obvious that the hospital structures become more large-sized and tall-risen in Korea today. Nothing is more influential than the vertical core plan on the movements of various people in such large-tall hospitals. The present paper, therefore, aims to study on the efficient hospital core space paying first attention to patients by analysing the data on relations between/among department layouts of vertical and horizontal movements. Methods: This study sampled representative 14 hospitals and drew their degrees of data importance on the basis of precedented relative studies. This study also analysed their placements on the blueprint and made confirmations of their arrangements through their homepage on line. Actual visits were made to make sure of the spacial connections between/among departments in the hospitals as well. Results: Even in emergency case in need for vertical movements, the central main core spaces are usually used, which is because special vertical transportation systems are not provided. In these cases, the main core spaces are very important for those who have to move vertically and/or horizontally according to the locations and types of main cores. While special lifts or dumbwaiters are prepared to install for the important articles, such as samples of pathology department, most patients should share with regular visitors the elevators not separated visually and spatially from them. Implications: Vertical core plans are greatly dependent on the ward types and hospital styles. This study is hopefully expected to contribute itself to the standard setting-up of comfortable and quick vertical core system operations for patients.