• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.37-46
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• 2019

Purpose: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is an important inpatient care area where critical patients are treated intensively with advanced medical technology. The level of care of ICU and the modernization of related facilities is an important indicator of health care quality. At the present time, when the Regional public hospitals are frequently expanding, the rational planning of the ICU has become an important part of the medical institutions treating the ICU. The purpose of this study is to present basic data with net area which can be used in the architectural planning of the ICU. Methods: The investigation and analysis of the ICUs were conducted on 24 medical facilities, based on theoretical analysis through relevant guidelines, articles, and documents, and on the basis of the actual space composition and net area analysis through the architectural drawings. Results: This study provides basic data such as bed placement type of ICU, relationship with other departments, distance between NS and bed, distance between beds, and net area of disease by type. Implications: The results of this paper are expected to be effective reference materials for future research for rational spatial organization and efficient operation of the Intensive Care Unit in regional public hospitals.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2018

Purpose: It is recently reported that the increasing noise in the hospitals has caused psychological and physiological stress problems with patients, and medical staffs. This study intends to investigate and analyze the noise levels in the sub stations in comparison with those in the wards in general. This study tries also to find some alterative solutions to the immediate problems. Methods: Noise measurements are conducted in advance prior to analyzing their results at two general hospitals with more than 900 beds, in the comprehensive nursing service wards and in the main/ sub stations located in the general wards Results: Although the noise level in the comprehensive nursing service wards has been slightly lower than that in the general wards, this result is over the recommended noise levels. Therefore it is recommended that efforts should be made to low down the noise level as an alternative and to replace the aged carts as well. Implications: The comprehensive nursing service wards are required to take measures against the various noise sources.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics and Information Engineers
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.103-109
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• 2017

In order to apply the patient monitoring system to the hospital field, it is necessary to be able to measure and analysis data the major bio-signals that are basically covered by the existing patient monitoring system. We have implemented a wearable device and the patient monitoring system for measuring ECG and oxygen saturation. The implemented system transmits the measured bio-signal to the server on the nursing station via Bluetooth. It is represented by graph waveforms and numerical values that can be checked by the medical staff in the patient monitoring system. The validity of this system is verified by comparing the data collected through the designed system with the data obtained from the conventional equipment.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 2019

Purpose: This study aims to examine spatial characteristics of ambulatory care department Chronologically through case studies; and to consider the social implication of these spatial changes. Methods: In this study, a total of eight ambulatory care departments, one or two for each period, were selected in order to analyze the spatial characteristics. Results: First, since the 1990s, the outpatient department of the US has been changed into a patient-centered space by providing high quality outpatient medical services through individual exam room planning. Second, the exam room has been changed from open/semi-open/group exam room to individual exam room since 1990, and the trend is shifting from the cluster type to the modular type consisting of universal exam rooms in order to achieve the flexibility of exam room. Third, the diagnostic/testing area has been deployed to the ambulatory clinic to enable 'one-stop shopping' for patients-centered care since 1990s, however, it has been disappearing since 2000 due to Reduce medical expenses. Fourth, the Central Nursing Station type first appeared in the outpatient department In the 2000s, followed by the type of decentralized nursing station type since 2010s. And fifth, the area of medical support has been placing to be concentrated on one place due to the Lean Design strategy since 2010. Implications: In the future, it is expected that Korea will be more focused on efficiency, visual control, and flexibility in the planning of the ambulatory care department as in the case of the United States.