ISOLATION ROOMS IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS: SYNERGY BETWEEN LEGISLATION AND PRACTICE?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4013/arq.2020.161.07Abstract
The isolation room is part of a set of strategies adopted to control and prevent infections in the hospital environment. Combined with hospital techniques, it helps contain communicable diseases, protect patients, caregivers and healthcare staff. However, it is not mandatory in Emergency Departments according to current regulations. This study aimed at investigating the view of hospital architects — professional class involved in the elaboration and revision of health care standards — about the importance of providing isolation rooms in these units. The research, qualitative and exploratory, is based on literature review, which includes the analysis of international standards, and also on the compilation of semi-structured interviews with architects. For the interviewees, Architecture in the form of physical barriers is a relevant component that helps the prevention and containment of communicable diseases and the importance of the presence of isolation room in Emergency Departments was demonstrated. The study also allowed to discover obstacles faced by architects in the design of the isolation room, as well as design aspects not provided in Brazilian standards, but which may support the planning of these environments.
Keywords: Hospital architecture, Infection control, Urgency and emergency departments.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
I grant the journal Arquiteturarevista the first publication of my article, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license (which allows sharing of work, recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal).
I also take full responsibility for the copyright of images, photos and data included in the submitted work. I confirm that my article is not being submitted to another publication and has not been published in its entirely on another journal. I take full responsibility for its originality and I will also claim responsibility for charges from claims by third parties concerning the authorship of the article, its data and images.
I am responsible for approval in the specific ethics boards for each purpose, whenever necessary.