• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyze a sample of single corridor, pod type and composite type of ICUs in terms of patient visibility, spatial configurations and nurse walking distance focused on Korean cases. Methods: The measures of static visibility were used to quantify the patient visibility (upper third part of the patient bed) from the nurse station. The measure of space programme and area distribution (patient zone percentage, staff zone percentage, circulation zone percentage, corridor length per bed, distance from nurse station (NS) to patient bed and departmental gross square meter (DGSM) per patient bed) were calculated by using AutoCAD and MS Excel programs. In the second step of analysis the values of space distribution were compared among the three type of ICUs as well as the nurse walking distance, DGSM per bed and gross factor. in the third step of analysis regression analysis was conducted for the possible correlation between visibility and space programme and area distribution factors as well as nurse walking distance factors. Results: (1) It was found that on average composite type unit offer highest value of patient visibility followed by pod type, while single corridor type unit offers the minimum value of patient visibility among the three plan typologies. (2) Average patient visibility and DGSM per bed shows a strong positive correlation ($r^2=0.75$) and p=0.026. (3) Average patient visibility and average distance from NS has a strong negative correlation ($r^2=0.78$), and P=0.02. (4) On average composite type unit offer the minimum walking distance from NS (7.22 meter) followed by pod type unit (8.35 meter) and single corridor (9.76 meter). (5) Maximum distance from NS was noted in single corridor (18.19 meter) followed by pod type unit (15.14 meter) and Composite type unit (11.1 meter). Implications: This study may contribute to the visibility analysis of existing and future ICU design in Korea to achieve maximum patient visibility and reduced nurse walking distance.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.19-26
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• 2015

Purpose: Maximizing human comfort in design of medical environments depends immensely on specialized architects particularly critical care design; the study proposes Evidence-Based Design as an apparent analog to Evidence-Based Medicine. Healthcare facility designs are substantially based on the findings of study in an effort to design environments that augment care by improving patient safety and being therapeutic. On SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) t-test is applied to simulate two independent variables of PDR (Pre Design-Research) and POE (Post- Occupancy Evaluation). PDR is conducted on relatively new hospital Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital to analyse visibility from researchers' point of view, here the ICU is arranged in I-Shape. POE is applied on Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital to simulate walking on LogWare where two NS are designed based on L- Shape and Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea where five NS are functional for ICU Intensive Care Unit, Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), Critical Care Unit (CCU), Korean Oriental Medical Care Unit which are mostly arranged in U-Shape, and walking pattern is recognized to be in a zigzag path. Method: T-Test is applied on two dependent communication variables: walkability and visibility, with confidence interval of 95%. This study systematically analyses the Nurse Station (NS) typo-morphology, and simulates nurse horizontal circulation, by computing round route visits to patient's bed, then estimating minimum round route on LogWare stop sequence software. The visual connectivity is measured on depth map graphs. Hence the aim is to reduce staff stress and fatigue for better patients care by minimizing staff horizontal travel time and to facilitate nurse walk path and support space distribution by increasing effectiveness in delivering care. Result: Applying visibility graph and isovist field on space syntax on I- Shape, L- Shape and U- Shape ICU (SICU, MICU and CCU) configuration, I-shape facilitated 20% more patients in linear view as they stir to rise from their beds from nurse station compared to U-shape. In conclusion, it was proved that U-Shape supply minimum walking and maximum visibility; and L shape provides just visibility as the nurse is at pivot. I shape provides panoramic view from the Nurse Station but very rigorous walking.

• International Journal of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.640-653
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• 2015

In order to develop the challenging process of placing Aids to Navigation (AtoN), we propose performance measures which quantifies the effect of such placement. The best placement of AtoNs is that from which the navigator can best recognize the information provided by an AtoN. The visibility of AtoNs depends mostly on light sources, the weather condition and the position of the navigator. Visual recognition is enabled by achieving adequate contrast between the AtoN light source and background light. Therefore, the performance measures can be formulated through the amount of differences between these two lights. For simplification, this approach is based on the values of the human factor suggested by International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA). Performance measures for AtoN placement can be evaluated through AtoN Simulator, which has been being developed by KIOST/KRISO in Korea and has been launched by Korea National Research Program. Simulations for evaluation are carried out at waterway in Busan port in Korea.