As communities across the country race to expand available hospital bed space in response to COVID-19, an American Institute of Architects (AIA) task force is providing a new tool for public officials to quickly identify buildings suitable to be adapted for patient care.
The COVID-19 Alternative Care Sites Assessment Tool provides a checklist highlighting important areas to consider when evaluating buildings, such as convention centers, sports arenas, community centers, hotels, dormitories and other spaces, to be used for temporary healthcare operations during a pandemic. The tool is intended to help individuals—who are not healthcare design experts—with a rapid evaluation of buildings compatible for supporting patient care operations; providing for the needs and safety of healthcare staff and patients; and mitigating the spread of disease.
“This tool is geared toward flexible and rapid decision making during a public health pandemic,” said Task Force Chair Dr. Molly Scanlon, FAIA, FACHA, who is an environmental health scientist at Phigenics. “Our goal was to synthesize decades of healthcare knowledge and experience into a checklist reflecting the key essential elements of healthcare operations to reduce risk and increase safety at an alternative care site.”
The task force developed the tool using established healthcare design best practices and standards in combination with federal documents issued during the COVID-19 crisis. Additionally, professional input was provided from trained and experienced health care architects, engineers, life-safety consultants, front line health workers, and hospital facility operations. A comprehensive briefing of the task force’s initiatives is available on AIA’s website.
Last Friday, the task force launched an online resource to facilitate sharing of built environment solutions when responding to COVID-19 surge capacity. As part of the effort, architects, designers, engineers and facility managers are asked to provide project information and images of COVID-19 alternative care sites into an online database. The facility and its location will appear on an online global map produced and quality controlled by the University of Kansas’ Institute of Health + Wellness Design. The taskforce developed the tool to catalog current public health and healthcare facility response and to create a research database for future pandemics.
AIA’s task force was launched to support the COVID-19 response. It is comprised of architects with a wide range of expertise, including healthcare facility design, urban design, public health and disaster assistance.
Related Stories
Coronavirus | Mar 20, 2020
Extending care capacity as COVID-19 grows
Coronavirus threatens to overwhelm the U.S. healthcare system. LEO A DALY’s health practice leader offers some innovative ideas for expanding access.
Coronavirus | Mar 19, 2020
Positive vibes: Let's take a look at the brighter side of these crazy times
Perhaps now is a good time to take a page from Monty Python's book and look on the bright side of life. So let's push aside the doom and gloom for a bit and bring a little positivity to these strange times we all currently find ourselves in.
Coronavirus | Mar 19, 2020
Force Majeure and COVID-19 in construction contracts - What you need to know
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are all taking a closer look at many portions of our contracts.
Coronavirus | Mar 19, 2020
Technology crucial during COVID-19 social distancing
Technology can help bridge the gap during the Coronavirus pandemic as higher education institutes and corporations are moving to a remote work model.
Coronavirus | Mar 18, 2020
Coronavirus latest: Short-term pain but strong rebound likely, says Oxford Economics
Once the disruption and uncertainty fade, the rebound in global economic activity will be strong. It’s important for firms to position themselves for such a recovery.
Coronavirus | Mar 18, 2020
We are in the midst of a paradigm shift for higher education
The question for higher education is, what will the university of the future look like?
Coronavirus | Mar 17, 2020
AIA: Design services saw increase in February, but economic footings are rapidly shifting
"The rapid pull-back in activity throughout the economy will obviously be felt in the design and construction sector, and architecture firms will be one of the first to see how these events play out,” said AIA Chief Economist, Kermit Baker, Hon. AIA, PhD.
Coronavirus | Mar 17, 2020
AGC to government officials: Shutting down construction projects is an unnecessary step
Construction firms are already taking steps to protect employees, most of whom already wear protective equipment, while halting work will undermine efforts to add hospital capacity.
Coronavirus | Mar 16, 2020
Boston mayor orders shut down of construction sites due to coronavirus
Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has ordered that all construction projects in the city be suspended in response to the spread of the coronavirus.
Coronavirus | Mar 16, 2020
Effective remote workforce: Key steps and strategies for success
As the potential scope of the COVID-19 outbreak has become more clear in the United States and Canada, public and private organizations from all industries, sectors and geographies are encouraging their teams to work remotely to reduce the spread of the virus.
