Design for healthcare in current and future cities: Exploring assessment tools and methods for evaluating sustainability and inclusion in healthcare complex infrastructures

Given the pressing demand for hospitals to embody innovation and adaptability, it is significant that the majority of these institutions already reached the end of their estimated optimal lifespan. This situation prompts a critical inquiry into how to integrate both the physical, organizational, and social qualities of the healthcare environment and how to analyze the data collected within hospitals, to achieve the objective of creating sustainable cities. This paper explores the development and application of evidence-based tools in healthcare-built environments, focusing on enhancing quality, sustainability, and user-centered experiences. Specifically, it describes the methodological evolution of two innovative tools developed within research projects, specifically focusing on the assessment of sustainability and inclusion criteria in complex infrastructures for health. Based on different methodological steps, these tools provide comprehensive data collection and reliable analysis due to their development and criteria elicitation methods including Systematic Literature Review, Assessment Tool Review, Best Practices Analysis as well as Weighting Approach with multiple criteria analysis to support decision-making, emphasizing a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to address future healthcare challenges. The findings highlight the implications of such tools in influencing policy, advocating for a holistic view in healthcare design and operation to better meet diverse user needs and therefore contribute to the sustainable design of current and future cities.