Contemporary ICU Design

Abstract

Intensive care unit (ICU) design is a complex process and requires a multidisciplinary group of professionals. It is highly probable that hospital-based intensivist leaders will be asked at some point in their careers to participate in efforts to design new ICUs or renovate existing ones. Four core principles should guide ICU-specific design. First, designing an ICU is a complex and time-consuming process. Second, an ICU is a semiautonomous mini-hospital. Third, the design requires balance between innovation and functionality, space and physical limitations, and desire and cost. Last, the design should combine technology, security, and healing. The layout of an ICU is arguably the most important design feature affecting all aspects of critical care services. While the core of the ICU experience is the patient room, central clinical support zones within the ICU act to bind the patient rooms and other supportive areas together, with the overall goal of supporting bedside care. Deploying advanced informatics into the modern ICU electronically integrates the patient with all aspects of care. This chapter provides an overview to a wide array of design issues and is divided into three sections: an overview of ICU design, configuring the ICU space, and future trends in ICU design.