Journal of Angiotherapy
Integrative Biomedical Research | Online ISSN  2207-872X
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Contents Vol 8 (8)

Functional Design and Patient Experience in Emergency Care: A Comparative Analysis of Hospital-Based and Free-Standing Emergency Departments – A Review

Fahdah Mehsan Alotaibi 1*, Faisal Barjas AlHarbi 1, Abdulrahman Abdullah Aljadid 1, Faisal Mohammed Alosaimi 1, Yussef Falah Alharbi 1, Bedour Subhi AlAujan 1, Mohammed Abdullah Alzaher 1, Bodour Nasser Alsahli 1, Ali Khawaji Ali 1, Wedad Shilash Alanazi  1, Jehad Hassan Alshaikh 1, Brahim Madhour Alshammari 1, Abdulrahman Mohammed Abdulkarim Alsadun 1

+ Author Affiliations

Journal of Angiotherapy 8 (8) 1-7 https://doi.org/10.25163/angiotherapy.8810241

Submitted: 01 June 2024 Revised: 02 August 2024  Published: 07 August 2024 

Abstract

Emergency Departments (EDs) are crucial elements of contemporary healthcare systems but are beset by long-standing issues such as overcrowding, rising patient severity, and resource constraints. With these issues in consideration, Free Standing Emergency Departments (FSEDs) have become newer options to conventional Hospital-Based Emergency Departments (HBEDs). This study provides a comparative examination of the functional designs, organizational structures, and patient experiences of HBEDs and FSEDs. The research recognizes that spatial design, internal connectivity, and zoning have a crucial influence on patient flow, staff efficiency, and the quality of general care. FSEDs, having greater design flexibility, often incorporate patient-focused amenities and streamlined designs that reduce waiting times and improve satisfaction rates. HBEDs, however, generally have linear process-based designs that include risk-based zoning and incorporation of hospital services external to themselves. The findings stress the importance of user-centered design and stakeholder involvement in ED environment optimization. Case study and literature review show that while both models possess particular strengths and weaknesses, the use of best practices in functional layout can dramatically improve both patient outcomes and staff performance. Research toward developing overarching design guidelines for evolving emergency care needs is recommended.

Keywords: Emergency Departments, Free-Standing Emergency Departments, Hospital-Based Emergency Departments, Functional Arrangements, Patient Experience.

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