An Intensive Care Unit Design of the Future

Abstract

In the era of pandemics, ICU is the most critical department in a hospital. It is a specialized and self-contained place where critically ill patients, whose life hangs in the balance of life and death, are lodged and cared for. It is a highly specialized and sophisticated area furnished, equipped, and manned by unique skilled expert personnel who handle very complex machinery. Based on the capability of an ICU to handle the varied medical complexities and the level of clinical expertise, ICUs are segregated into different levels of care such as level 1, level 2, and level 3. Consideration of standards and specifications in each level varies, so while designing the ICU, care needs to be taken for accommodating future upgrade of lower levels.