Future planning of radiotherapy departments can improve by considering the statement ‘form follows function’. With this the architecture is supposed to be planned for the workflow and not the workflow is adjusted for the architecture. With this, the aim is to develop floor plan configurations to help improve the workflow for staff and the therapy process for patients.
The implementation of evidence-based design in healthcare facilities can positively influence workflow, travel paths, well-being, and quality of stay. (Mahmood, 2021) Transferred to radiotherapy, an optimized architecture and built environment of radiotherapy departments is a prerequisite for treatment.
Given the complexity of RT departments, their specific features, and the current lack of planning requirements, a multilayered study is approached. With my Ph.D. Project on “Healthcare Design for Radiotherapy – Planning Criteria to Improve Workflow and the Physical Environment with Architecture and Design”, an analysis of built radiotherapy departments is conducted to improve future architectural planning from the perspective of workflow and built environment for all user groups.
In Study Phase A, a list of rooms was drafted, and clusters were categorized to structure the complexity of radiotherapy departments. Six cluster formations were conducted: Reception, Outpatient, Imaging, Planning, Therapy, and Personnel/ Service with each dedicated rooms. The cluster formations were further analyzed by their relation, distance, and arrangement towards each other. The analysis was inspecting differences and similarities in patterns of spatial relationship for clusters and rooms. In addition, the comparability of different-d departments, measured by the number of therapy rooms, was investigated.
With this comparative floor plan analysis, a classification of radiotherapy departments based on organizational and spatial characteristics was developed. This Study Phase A focuses on the environment of radiotherapy departments by establishing typologies and spatial criteria of cluster formations and room organization by analyzing floor plans of radiotherapy departments in German hospitals.
Study Phase B analysis the workflow and travel paths of all users of RT departments. Looking at similarities and differences of travel paths of Radiation Physicians, Radio physicists, Radiation Nurses, Administration, Patients, and Services. The analysis is done by observing and documenting the department and clusters with the methods of behavior mapping and shadowing. With these methods, individual travel paths, wayfinding challenges, workflow settings, and distances can be analyzed. Furthermore, path crossings of the same or different user groups can be acknowledged.
Additionally, Study Phase C is subject to complementary data collection of the previous analysis settings. Using the information of expert knowledge, challenges and advantages in built environments, and documented behavior of all user groups is the aim of Study Phase C.
Finally, the three Study Phases aim to combine aspects of environment, workflow, and behavior to derive planning requirements and design recommendations for future radiotherapy departments.
Mahmood, F. J. (2021). The role of evidence-based design in informing health-care architects. Journal of Facilities Management, 19(2), 249–262. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFM-09-2020-0062