A Study on the Wayfinding Model of Outpatient Department in General Hospital

종합병원 외래진료부 진로인지계획 모형에 관한 연구

Recently, hospital patients experience anxiety, confusion, and stress about wayfinding as the spacial layout and treatment circulatory system of hospitals have become complicated due to their oversized and complex structure. As part of finding a solution to the problem, this study seeks to examine what are the essential elements of the wayfinding planning of O.P.D. in general hospitals, to develop the model of wayfinding, and to suggest the methods of improving the wayfinding system. The research methods of this study adopted were literature review in wayfinding cognition, plan analysis of ten general hospitals, space analysis of these hospitals through space syntax, analysis of the system of visual-perceptual information through a field study, and analysis of surveys and follow-up surveys conducted to support the results. Based on these results, the proposals for finding decision points, providing the information, and developing a model planning are listed as follows. 1) The comprehensive understanding of O.P.D. spacial layout and the visual-perceptual information system is necessary to find the essential elements of wayfinding. 2) The decision points are found through the full understanding of spacial functions, circulation systems, and facility configuration, considering the spacial layout, the bound of the visual-perceptual information system, and the circulatory system. Furthermore, the information decision points could be confined by space syntax. 3) The checklist and color compound & color codes, developed through the planning of signage system and color system could be applied to the methods of providing the information. 4) The planning of wayfinding system according to the whole process of practices for outpatients was mentioned above. The system of visual-perceptual information developed through the process of this study should be integrated in the spacial layout of the whole O.P.D.