COVID-19 pandemic and the trends in healthcare design: insights from the “Decalogue for Resilient Hospitals” (COVID-19 – A pandemia e as tendências para o planejamento do serviço de saúde: perspectivas do "Decálogo para Hospitais Resilientes")

The COVID-19 pandemic has stressed the healthcare systems at global scale with specific regards to hospital organizations and facilities. The surge in infections and the huge number of critically ill patients has tested the flexibility of architectures for health forcing organizations to quickly adapt and exploit ad-hoc emergency solutions. The paper proposes insights from the “Decalogue for Resilient Hospitals” which includes a series of design strategies and considerations applicable both to new hospitals and to the refurbishment of existing hospitals. The proposed strategies involve: 1) Strategic Site Location; 2) Typology Configuration; 3) Flexibility; 4) Functional program; 5) Usercenteredness; 6) Healthcare network on the territory; 7) Patient safety; 8) HVAC and indoor air quality; 9) Innovative finishing materials and furniture; 10) Healthcare digital innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted healthcare operations and accelerated the processes of innovation and transformation. The incorporation of future-proofing design and operational strategies into new or refurbishment projects can enable the achievement of resilient hospital facilities.