DGHDP Issue 1 (6.1 mb, PDF) - Healthdesign.com.au

Part B - Health Facility Briefing and Planning300 .56.00LightingIt is essential that a high standard focused examination light is available in alltreatment areas. Each examination light should have a power output of30,000 lux, illuminate a field size of least 150 mm and be of robustconstruction.Clinical care areas should have exposure to daylight wherever possible tominimise patient and staff disorientation. Lighting should conform toAustralian Standards.300 .57.00300 .58.00300 .59.00Safety and SecurityThe Emergency Unit receives a large number of patients and their visitors,many of whom may be distressed, intoxicated or involved in violence. Thehospital has a duty of care to provide for the safety and security of employees,patients and visitors. Both policies and structures should be in place tominimise injury, psychological trauma and damage or loss of property. Theprecise details of security features should be designed in conjunction with asecurity risk assessment for the specific site.The location of an office for security personnel near the entrance should beconsidered. This room should be positioned so that it allows Security Staff aclear view of the Waiting Room, Triage and Reception Areas. Immediateaccess to these areas is essential. Remote monitoring of other areas in thedepartment by CCTV and of staff duress/personal alarms should also occurfrom this area.PERIMETER ACCESS CONTROLAmbulatory and Ambulance entrances should be separate, with electronicallyoperated locks. Access from the Waiting Areas to the treatment areas shouldbe controlled. There should be restricted access from the remainder of thehospital into the Emergency Unit.300 .60.00RECEPTION / TRIAGE AREASThe interface between the Waiting Areas and the Reception / Triage Areasshould be carefully designed so as to permit communication and reassuranceto distressed patients or visitors, yet provide safety and security for staff.Counters should be of sufficient height and depth to minimise the possibility ofthem being jumped over or reached over. The Reception Area should beelevated so that staff may sit at eye level with standing patients or visitors.The Reception / Triage area should have an unobstructed view of the entireWaiting Area.300 .61.00Fixed and/or personal duress alarms should be positioned in suitable areas assuggested by the security risk assessment.300 .62.00Uniformed security personnel may be required at very short notice to assistwith a safety or security issue.300 .63.00300 .64.00Relatively secluded or isolated areas should be monitored electronically (forexample, by closed circuit television), with monitors in easily visible andcontinuously staffed areas.Space Standards and ComponentsBED SPACINGDHSThe Department of Human Services, VictoriaDesign guidelines for hospitals and day procedure centres02-Nov-04Issue 1Page 190 of 426