Emergency Dept Design PDF

GUIDELINES
ON
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT DESIGN
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PREAMBLE
These guidelines are the first revision of the original publication of 1998. They are designed to assist
clinicians, planners and architects in producing a design for an emergency department which is of
adequate size and contains adequate facilities to fulfill its role. As emergency departments have high
patient turnover, varied casemix and a large workforce, their design is crucial to their function.
Emergency departments must be planned with due consideration for the potential for growth and
expected changes in health care delivery. Current and potential models of care must be considered.
Key considerations include safety and security, amenity, access, image and consumer expectations,
and evolving work practices.
This paper was produced with the input of many people who have direct experience with ED design or
redevelopment. The guidelines are based on extensive consultation and research, including results of
design and equipment surveys from more than 60 emergency departments over 15 years and detailed
evaluation of plans of existing departments.
Recommended sizes for various spaces are expressed in relation to departmental activity. In general, a
combination of activity (number of attendances), acuity (types of attendances) and the desired
performance level (waiting times and access block) determine the amount and type of space required.
In addition, workforce is broadly proportional to activity. Therefore staff area sizes are also related to
departmental activity.
These guidelines are based on current Australasian conventional emergency department practice but
do include reference to variations in service models that have been incorporated into recent designs.
The best outcomes will be achieved if there is close consultation and collaboration between managers,
emergency department clinicians and architects in designing emergency department facilities.
Consumer involvement at key review points is highly desirable. An image gallery of contemporary
facilities is provided for illustrative purposes only.
This is a living document which will evolve as emergency medicine develops.
1. INTRODUCTION
The emergency department is a core clinical unit of a hospital and the experience of patients
attending the emergency department significantly influences patient satisfaction and the public
image of the hospital. Its function is to receive, triage, stabilise and provide emergency
management to patients who present with a wide variety of critical, urgent and semi urgent
conditions whether self or otherwise referred. The emergency department also provides for the
reception and management of disaster patients as part of its role within the disaster plan of
each region. In addition to standard treatment areas, some departments may require additional
specifically designed areas to fulfill special roles, such as:
The management of paediatric patients

The management of major trauma patients
The management of psychiatric patients
34 Jeffcott Street y West Melbourne y Victoria 3003 y Australia y Telephone: (03) 9320 0444 y Fax: (03) 9320 0400
G15 Emergency Department Design - March 2007 Page 2
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The management of patients following sexual assault

The management of infectious patients
The extended observation and management of patients
The management of prisoners in custody
The management of patients affected by chemical, biological or radiological incidents
Undergraduate, postgraduate teaching
Transport and retrieval services
Telemedicine
In addition to clinical areas, emergency departments require facilities for the following essential functions:
Teaching
Research
Administration
Staff amenities
Information which would assist in the planning of an emergency department include
Annual census and trends

Average daily census with peak patient volumes
Triage categories of patient presentations
Admission/transfer rate, including the number of cases requiring monitoring
Average length of stay
Turnaround times for radiology and pathology
Patient mix, identifying those who are >65 years of age, and paediatric cases
Additional information which pertain to the role delineation of the department ie. trauma
service, regional referral service
In general planning, the physical design goals should not be confused with operational goals.
Designing a functional emergency department will not resolve access block. In order to maximise
functional consideration, it is recommended that
The clinical areas be designed to accommodate higher acuity patients. All treatment
spaces should be wired for monitoring with access to the patient available from all sides
Paediatric clinical spaces require as a minimum the same space requirements if not more
than adult patient care spaces to accommodate family members and /or carers, storage area
for toys, books etc
The department design has the ability to respond to clinical demands.
The central station or arena department design concept is appropriate to a certain
department size. When this is exceeded modular design principles should be adopted to
maximise operational practices ie. subgrouping patient care areas each with ready access
to its own clinical support areas and its own central station to avoid staff fragmentation
Overuse of specialty rooms be avoided. Maintain flexibility to cope with emerging advances
in clinical care ie. staff access to computer wireless technology in clinical recording
Spatial consideration be made to accommodate family members and/or carers who will be
accompanying the patient
Privacy and confidentiality be maximised
The clinical areas have the capacity to be isolated to prevent cross infection or cross
contamination in the event that an area becomes contaminated
Once designed, the plan should be tested by using a number of clinical scenarios ie. multiple trauma,
chest pain, paediatric resuscitation, mental health presentation with a behavioral problem,
gynaecological presentation, potentially infectious or poisoned patients ie. MRSA, TB, SARS, "white
powder", fracture, malaria, to ensure optimal patient flow.
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2. MAJOR SPACE DETERMINANTS
2.1 General
Space determinants revolve around the major functional areas of the department. These may
be divided broadly into:
Ambulance and ambulatory entrances

Reception/Triage/Waiting area
Administrative area
Resuscitation area
Acute Treatment area (of non-ambulant patients)
Consultation area/fast track area (for ambulant patients)
Staff workstations
Specialty areas, eg.
Paediatric areas
Distressed relatives/interview room
Procedure room(s)
Plaster room
Pharmacy/drug preparation
Ophthalmology/ENT
Mental Health Assessment
Isolation room(s)
Decontamination areas
Teaching areas
Tutorial room
Support services
Storage
Clean and dirty utility
Shower/bathroom/toilets
Staff rooms
Linen trolley bay
Mobile equipment bay
Mobile X-Ray equipment bay
Cleaner's room
Lounge/beverage preparation area
Emergency services officer/lounge
Offices and administration area
Diagnostic areas eg. medical imaging unit/ laboratory area (optional)
Emergency department short stay/observation ward (optional)
Circulation space
2.2 Total Size
The total internal area of the emergency department, excluding observation ward and internal
medical imaging area if present, should be at least 50m2/1000 yearly attendances or
145m2/1000 yearly admissions, whichever size is greater. The minimum size of a functional
emergency department that can incorporate all of the major areas is 700m2. These figures are
based upon access block being minimal. Emergency Departments may take extended amounts
of time from conception to completion, therefore allowances for future growth and
development must be made in the design process.
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The total size and number of treatment areas will also be influenced by factors such as: patient
numbers, casemix and activity; projected population growth and changing population
demographics; anticipated changes in technology; laboratory and medical imaging turnaround
time; inpatient bed accessibility; and staffing number and structure.
2.3 Total Number of Treatment Areas
The total number of patient treatment areas should be at least 1/1100 yearly attendances or
1/400 yearly admissions, whichever is greater in number. Areas such as procedure, plaster and
interview rooms are not considered as treatment areas nor are holding bays or observation unit
beds for admitted patients. The number of resuscitation areas should be no less than 1/15,000
yearly attendances or 1/5,000 yearly admissions and at least 1/2 of the total number of
treatment areas should have physiological monitoring.
3. FUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
The functional relationships may be summarised by the following diagram:
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
Direct Access Ready Access Access
Ambulance Car Parking Inpatient wards

Medical Imaging Helipad (if applicable) Pharmacy
Short Stay Unit Coronary Care Unit Outpatients
Intensive Care Unit Mortuary
Operating Rooms
Pathology/Transfusion Service
Medical Records
3.1 Medical Imaging
The Unit is dedicated to the imaging of emergency department patients. It should have a
general X-Ray table, upright X-Ray facilities and an additional overhead gantry in the trauma
bay/resuscitation area is recommended. The presence/absence of a film processor is dependent
upon proximity to the main Medical Imaging Department or the use of digital radiography.
Immediate access to CT scanning, Magnetic Resource Imaging (MRI), Ultrasound and
Nuclear Medicine modalities will enhance the emergency department's effectiveness. A
system of electronic display of images and reports (ie. Picture Archiving Communications
System or PACS) is highly desirable.
3.2 Medical Records
Access is required so that patients previous medical histories are obtainable without delay. A
system of mechanical or electronic medical record transfer is desirable to minimise delays and
labour costs. Access to medical records must be available 24 hours/day.
3.3 Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care Unit
Rapid access is highly desirable to minimise transfer times of critically ill patients.
3.4 Operating Rooms
Rapid access is highly desirable in certain surgical emergencies, eg. ruptured aortic aneurysm,
ectopic pregnancy, major trauma etc
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3.5 Pathology
Rapid access is highly desirable to minimise turnaround times for laboratory investigations.
Mechanical or pneumatic tube transport systems for specimens and electronic reporting of
results are recommended. Point of care access for electrolyte/blood gas analysis, pregnancy
testing and urine testing are highly desirable.
3.6 Pharmacy
Proximity is desirable to enable prescriptions to be filled by patients with limited mobility.
4. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
4.1 General
This should allow rapid access to every space with a minimum of cross traffic. There should
be close proximity between the Resuscitation/Acute Treatment areas for non-ambulant
patients and other treatment areas for ambulant patients, as staff may require relocation at
times of high workload. Visitor and patient access to all areas should not traverse clinical
areas. Protection of visual, auditory and olfactory privacy is important whilst recognising the
need for observation of patients by staff.
4.2 Site Selection
Decisions regarding site location have a major influence on the eventual cost and operational
efficiency of the department and should be made in conjunction with emergency department
staff. The site of the emergency department should, as much as possible, maximize the choices
of layout. In particular, sites of access points must be carefully considered.
4.3 Staging
If redevelopment is planned, the disruption to the function of the emergency department

should be minimised.
4.4 Access and Car Parking
The emergency department should be located on the ground floor for ease of access, should be
close to public transport, and adequately signed to ensure ease of way finding (ACEM
Guidelines on ED Signage). Car parking should be close to the entrance, well lit and available
exclusively for patients, their relatives and staff. Protected proximate parking areas should be
available for urgent call in staff. Appropriate physical barriers should protect drop off zones.
Undercover parking should be available for:
Appropriate number of ambulances. This will be determined by case load and availability
of ambulance access to other parts of the hospital for non-emergency patients.
On call duty emergency physician
Taxis and private vehicles which drop off/pick up patients (including those with
limited mobility) adjacent to the ambulance patient entrance.
Police vehicles
Fire Brigade
The emergency department should be clearly identified from all approaches. Illuminated
signage is required for some signs to ensure visibility at night. The use of graphic and
character display (eg. a white cross on a red background with the word "emergency") is
encouraged. Multilingual signage may be required in departments with a significant caseload
of culturally and linguistically diverse patients.
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4.5 Fire Safety
Emergency Departments should be constructed to comply with fire regulations.
4.6 Grouping of Rooms - Functional relationships
An emergency department is comprised of the following functional areas:
Entrance/Reception/Triage area
Resuscitation area
Acute Treatment area and associated
Consultation area workstations
Staff/amenities
Administration area
The main aggregation of clinical staff over 24 hours will be at the staff station in the Acute
Treatment/Resuscitation area. This should be the focus around which the other clinical areas
are grouped. The Entrance/Reception/Triage area is the focus of initial presentation and
hospital administrative functions. The Administration area should be accessible to the clinical
areas but should not impair the clinical function of the department. These support areas are
best arranged around the periphery of the department.
4.7 Bed Spacing
In the Acute Treatment area there should be at least 2.4 metres of clear floor space between
beds. The minimum length should be 3 metres.
4.8 Lighting
It is essential that a high standard focused examination light is available in all treatment areas.
Each examination light should have a power output of 30,000 lux, illuminate a field size of at
least 150mm and be of robust construction.
Clinical care areas should have exposure to daylight wherever possible to minimise patient
and staff disorientation. Lighting should conform to Australian/New Zealand Standards.
4.9 Sound Control
Clinical care areas should be designed so as to minimise the transmission of sound between
adjacent treatment areas and sound levels should conform to Australian and New Zealand
Standards and World health organization guidelines. Distressed relatives/Interview rooms and
selected offices should have a high level of sound control to ensure privacy.
4.10 Service Panels
Service panels should be minimally equipped as follows:
a. Resuscitation room (for each patient space)

3 x oxygen outlets
2 x medical air outlets
3 x suction outlets
16 x GPOs in at least two separate panels
1 x nitrous oxide outlet (optional)
1 x scavenging unit
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b. Acute Treatment bed - adult and paediatric

2 x oxygen outlets
1 x medical air outlet
2 x suction outlets
8 x GPOs in two separate panels
1 x scavenging unit
c. Procedure room/suture room/plaster room

2 x oxygen outlets
1 x medical air outlet
1 x suction outlets
8 x GPOs in two separate panels
1 x nitrous oxide outlet
1 x scavenging unit
d. Consultation room
1 x oxygen outlet
1 x suction outlet
4 x GPOs
e. External service panels

3 x oxygen outlets
2 x medical air outlets
2 x suction outlets
12 x GPOs in at least two separate panels
1 x scavenging unit
4.11 Physiological Monitors
Each Acute Treatment area bed, should have access to a physiological monitor. Central
monitoring is recommended. Monitors should have printing and monitoring functions which
include a minimum of:
ECG
NIBP
Temperature
SpO2
4.12 Storage Around Bed
Adequate storage space for disposable and non-disposable medical equipment should be
available near each bed space. Storage space may consist of modular plastic type bins or other
materials involving a similar design concept. There should be adequate consideration for the
temporary holding of patient belongings.
4.13 Cabling
Adequate cabling should be provided to ensure availability of GPOs to all clinical and non-
clinical areas. Provision should also be made for cabling of telephone, patient call, emergency
call, and computers to areas where these are necessary. Wide bandwidth cabling should be
installed for electronic imaging systems telemedicine and internet applications. It is
anticipated the availability of wireless applications will increase, and this will complement the
above applications.
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4.14 Medical Gases
Medical gases should be internally piped, to all patient care areas.
4.15 Doors
All doors through which patients may pass must be of sufficient size to accommodate a full
hospital bed with attached intravenous flasks and traction apparatus with ease and must be
designed in accordance with Australian and New Zealand Standards. There should be at least
one pathway through the emergency department to key areas (imaging, OR, ICU) that will
accommodate a bariatric bed.
4.16 Corridors
In general, the total corridor area within the department should be minimised to optimise the use
of space. Where corridors are necessary, they should be of adequate width to allow the cross
passage of two hospital beds or a hospital bed and linen trolley without difficulty. There should
be adequate space for trolleys to enter or exit any of the consulting rooms, and to be turned
around. Standard corridors should not be used for storage of equipment, linen, waste or patients.
4.17 Air Conditioning
The emergency department should have a separate air system capable of rapid change from
recirculation to fresh air flow. Special purpose rooms (eg. Infectious Disease Isolation Room)
or areas (ie. paediatric waiting area) may have special flow and filtering requirements.
4.18 Information/Communications Support
Emergency departments are high volume users of telecommunications and information

technology. Telephones should be available in all offices, at all staff stations, in the clerical
area and in all consultation and other clinical rooms. A central communications area for the
disposition of all incoming calls is recommended. The use of multifunction, wireless
communication devices should be considered. Additional phone jacks should be available for
the use of facsimile machines and computer modems where required. A dedicated telephone to
receive admitting requests from outside medical practitioners is desirable. Cordless phones or
phone jacks should be available for access to patients' beds.
An intercom or public address system that can reach all areas of the emergency department
should be available. Public telephones with acoustic hoods should be available in the waiting
area. A direct line to a taxi company is desirable. Direct telephone lines bypassing the hospital
switchboard should be available. They would be used in internal and external emergencies or
when the hospital PABX is out of service. The staff station should have a dedicated inward
line for the ambulance and emergency services. There should be facsimile lines in clinical as
well as administrative areas. Direct radio communication should be available between the
ambulance service and the emergency department. including incoming aeromedical transport.
An electronic emergency department information system should be installed to support

clinical management, patient tracking and departmental administration. Sufficient terminals
should be available to ensure that queuing does not occur, even at peak times. Computer
terminals and telephones need to be co-located to optimize staff efficiency. Workspace design
should include sufficient bench-widths or suitable suspension devices for screens, keyboards,
drives and printers. Additional computer terminals, software and peripheral devices should be
installed to enable other departmental functions. The increasing use of electronic medical
records should be anticipated and access to electronic knowledge bases should be routine.
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4.19 Patient Call Facilities
All patient care areas including toilets and bathrooms require individual patient call facilities.
Emergency department bed spaces should have call buttons that can be easily reached by a
patient on the emergency department trolley.
4.20 Emergency Call Facilities
All bed spaces and clinical areas, including toilets and bathrooms, should have access to an
emergency call facility so staff can summon urgent assistance. The emergency call facility
should alert to a central module situated adjacent to the staff station as well as to the Staff and
Tutorial rooms.
4.21 Duress Alarm
A duress alarm system should be available to staff working in any area with potentially
aggressive patients, particularly those in isolated areas, to ensure safety.
4.22 Hand Washing Facilities
Hand washing facilities should comply with Australian and New Zealand Standards. Alcohol
hand rubs should be available at each bedside. Basins for hand washing should be available
within each treatment area and should be accessible without traversing any other clinical area.
There should be basins at a ratio of 1 for every 4 beds and at the ratio of 1 to 1 for every
Procedure/Resuscitation/Consulting room/Triage/Isolation area. Taps in clinical areas should
be fitted with anti-splashback devices and operated hands free. Dispensers for non-sterile latex
gloves, face masks and gowns should be available in the vicinity of each hand basin and each
treatment area to assist staff compliance with standard precautions.
4.23 Emergency Power
Emergency power must be available to all lights and GPOs in the Resuscitation and Acute
Treatment/Observation areas of the department. Emergency lighting should be available in all
other areas. All computer terminals should have access to emergency power. In the event of a
total power failure, sufficient space and power points should be available to enable a backup
system of lighting to be stored and maintained.
4.24 Wall Finish
Hospital beds, ambulance trolleys, and wheelchairs may cause damage to walls. All wall
surfaces in areas which may come into contact with mobile equipment should be reinforced
and protected with buffer rails or similar. Bed stops should be fitted to the floor to stop the bed
head from coming into contact with and damaging fittings, monitors, etc.
4.25 Floor Covering
The floor covering in all patient care areas and corridors should have the following characteristics
Non slip surface

Impermeable to water, body fluids
Durable
Easy to clean
Acoustic properties that reduce sound transmission
Shock absorption to optimise staff comfort but facilitate movement of beds.
Office(s), Tutorial, Staff rooms, Clerical areas and the Distressed Relatives' room should be
carpeted.
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4.26 Wall Clocks
A wall clock should be visible in all clinical areas and waiting areas. Time-elapse clocks are
desirable in the resuscitation, procedure and plaster rooms. Times displayed in all areas and on
computers must be synchronised.
4.27 Electricity Supply
The electricity supply to the emergency department should be surge protected to protect
electronic and computer equipment. The Resuscitation area should be cardiac protected and
the Acute Treatment area body protected and the electricity supply to other patient care areas
should be in accordance with Australian and New Zealand Standards.
5. DESCRIPTION OF PATIENT FLOWS
The following diagram outlines the various pathways that a patient may follow when (s)he
enters the emergency department:
Ambulant Ambulance
Triage
nmm
Ambulatory Care/ Acute & subacute
Fast Track assessment
Supports
n
Specialties/ 5 Supports
Womens & Resuscitation Mental

Childrens Health & Trauma Health
Short Stay Unit
MAPU
Inpatient Wards

HOME
(Community)
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5.1 Triage
Patients may present self-referred or via emergency services (ambulance, police etc). All patients
should be triaged through a single point. The aim of triage is to "sort" patients in order to provide
optimum care consistent with their medical need and to ensure the efficient utilisation of the
available resources. All patients are allocated to a Category of the Australasian Triage Scale.
5.2 Reception
There is a close operational relationship between Triage and reception. After triage, patient
details are recorded by the clerical staff and a medical record either raised or a previous
medical record retrieved.
5.3 Treatment
Patients may be directed to:
a. Resuscitation area
b. Acute Treatment area
c. Consultation/Fast Track area
d. Medical Imaging
e. Waiting area
In areas a. - c., consultation/examination/investigations/treatment will be performed either in

sequence or concurrently, depending on the severity of the patient's condition. Support
services and, in certain cases, specialised areas, eg. plaster room, may be utilised. After
assessment and treatment, patients are either admitted, transferred or discharged.
5.4 Patient and Visitor Exit Routes
Patient and visitor exit routes out of the emergency department should be clearly sign posted
from within the emergency department. In situations where doors with electronic locks are
utilised, manual locks or release switches are mandated.
5.5 Disasters - Chemical Biological, Radiation Incidents
In these circumstances, plans may provide for Reception, Triage and initial treatment,
including wet and dry decontamination to occur outside the Emergency Department.
6. ESSENTIAL CLINICAL AREAS
6.1 General Requirements of all Treatment Areas (Including Triage)
Service panel
Examination light
Wall mounted sphygmomanometer
Ophthalmoscope/otoscope
Shelving
Miscellaneous equipment
Waste bins and sharps containers
Patient call and emergency call facilities
Foot stool
Patient trolley
Handbasin for use by Triage nurse and administrative staff
Access to alcohol hand rubs
Access to gloves
Appropriate seating for relatives/carers
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6.2 Ambulance Entrance
Apart from vehicular access considerations, signage and weather protection, the Ambulance
Entrance and environs may become an important reception and treatment area in the event of a
disaster or chemical/biological/radiation incident. The public address system should be
switchable to include these areas. The requirement to perform wet decontamination on
ambulant and non-ambulant individuals and groups should be available including the
deployment of modesty screening. All hospitals should have external service panels. Direct
access to an internal decontamination room should be available.
6.3 Resuscitation Room/ Bay
This room is used for the resuscitation and treatment of critically ill or injured patients. It has
the following requirements:
Minimum size for a single bed resuscitation room is 35m2 or 25m2 for each bed space
if in a multibedded room (not including storage area).
Area to fit a specialised uninterrupted resuscitation bed
Space to ensure 360 access to all parts of the patient for procedures
Circulation space to allow movement of staff and equipment around the work area.
Space for equipment, monitors, storage, wash up and disposal facilities.
Appropriate lighting, equipment to hang IV fluids etc.
Maximum possible visual and auditory privacy for the occupants of the room and
other patients and relatives.
The Resuscitation area should be easily accessible from the ambulance entrance and separate
from patient circulation areas and must be easily accessible from the staff station in the Acute
Treatment/Observation area. The Resuscitation area should have a full range of physiological
monitoring and resuscitation equipment. The rooms should be equipped with work benches,
storage cupboards, hand basins, X-Ray viewing facilities (or digital imaging system) and
computer access. The Resuscitation area should have solid partitions between it and other
areas. Movable partitions between bed spaces in multibedded are recommended.
Each Resuscitation bed space should be equipped with:
Service panel as described. Service pendants or pods should be used to maximise

access to patients.
Physiological monitor with facility for ECG, printing, NIBP, SpO2 , temperature,
invasive pressures, CO2 and printing
An operating room light with a minimum illumination of 80,000 lux
Radiolucent resuscitation trolley with cassette trays
Wall mounted diagnostic set (ophthalmoscope/otoscope)
Overhead IV track
The Resuscitation area should also have
A full range of airway management equipment

X-Ray viewing box - 4 panels for each bed, or digital imaging system
Wall clock with real time and stop clock function
Paediatric open care unit for the resuscitation of neonates (in departments that see
paediatric patients) with oxygen/suction facilities and an overhead radiant heater
Computer outlet and terminal
A minimum of 2 standard telephones
Hands free telephone
Cardiac arrest/resuscitation drug and equipment trolley
Portable monitor/ defibrillator
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Transcutaneous pacemaker
Infusion pumps
Fluid warming devices including infusors and warming cupboards
Portable ventilator with invasive and noninvasive functions
Whiteboards
Restricted drugs cupboard
Humidifier
Patient warming devices (ie. Bair Hugger)
The following should be immediately accessible:
Intravenous access trolleys

Thoracotomy tray
Intercostal catheter
Urinary catheterisation tray
Airway management tray (including surgical airway equipment)
Invasive vascular access insertion tray
Paediatric resuscitation equipment
Refrigerator (to Australian Standards for maintenance of cold chains)
Imaging facilities should include:
Overhead X-Ray
X-Ray screening (lead lining) of walls and partitions between beds
Resuscitation trolley with X-Ray capacity
Portable ultrasound
6.4 Acute Treatment Area
This area is used for the management of patients with acute illnesses.
Its requirements are:

Area to fit a standard mobile bed.
Storage space for essential equipment, eg. oxygen masks.
Space to allow monitoring equipment to be housed.
Minimum space between beds is 2.4 metres.
Each treatment area must be at least 12 m2 in area.
Patients with serious or potentially serious illnesses, are managed in this area. There must also
be a separate Paediatric area for the treatment of children. All of these beds must be situated to
enable direct observation from the Staff Station. Access to the Clean and Dirty Utility rooms,
Procedure room, Pharmacy room, and patient shower and toilet is necessary. Each area must
be separated by solid partitions that extend from floor to ceiling. The entrance to each area
must be able to be closed by a movable partition or curtain.
Each bed should be serviced by the following:
Service panels as above

Physiological monitor with ECG, NIBP, SpO2 , temperature, printer
Sphygmomanometer
Ceiling mounted rail for IV hooks
The area must have X-Ray viewing boxes/digital imaging systems located in strategic
areas
Access to alcohol rubs and gloves
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6.5 Isolation Rooms
Isolation rooms should be provided for the treatment of potentially infectious patients. They
should have negative ventilation, an ante room with scrub up facilities and be self contained
such that they have en-suite facilities, compliant with Australian Standards. The spaces
themselves should be fitted as per Acute Treatment areas. Position of these rooms should be
adjacent to areas where patients are received ie Triage to allow for the immediate isolation of
potentially highly infectious patients. Each Department should have one Type 5 isolation
room with additional requirements being determined by hospital location, role and patient
demographics.
Isolation rooms may also be used to treat patients with conditions that require separation from
other patients e.g. patients who require privacy for clinical conditions, or who are a source of
visual or auditory distress to others. Deceased patients may be placed there in the company of
grieving relatives. These rooms must be completely enclosed by floor to ceiling partitions and
have a solid door.
Each department must have at least 2 single rooms, with at least one room/10,000 annual
attendances being recommended. The requirement for single rooms will be increased in
departments which have a significant casemix of obstetric/gynaecological conditions.
6.6 Decontamination Room
A decontamination room should be available for patients who are contaminated with toxic
substances. In addition to the requirements of an isolation room, this room must:
Be directly accessible from the ambulance bay without entering any other part of the
department
Have a flexible water hose, floor drain and contaminated water trap
Have storage space for personal protective and decontamination equipment
6.7 Acute Mental Health Area
Patients suffering from an acute psychological or psychiatric crisis have unique and often
complex requirements. An Emergency Department (ED) should have adequate facilities for
the reception, assessment, stabilisation and initial treatment of patients presenting with acute
mental health problems.
It is not intended that this should reproduce the facilities of dedicated mental health admission
centres, nor be used for prolonged observation of uncontrolled patients. The main purpose of
such an area is to provide a safe and appropriate space for interview and stabilisation.
Acute mental health presentations have the potential to disrupt the normal operation of an ED.
Conversely, the busy environment of an ED may not be conducive to the care of patients with
acute mental health crises.
Patients presenting with symptoms of an acute mental health crisis may have co-existent
medical problems which require concurrent management. Life-threatening illness or injury
remains the first priority, and should be managed within the appropriate clinical area of the
ED.
In the interests of good patient care, uncontrolled patients should never be left unsupervised in
any area of an ED and the acute mental health area should be remote from paediatric areas.
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Design Considerations
Principles to be considered in the design include:
Location
The acute mental health assessment facility should ideally be located adjacent to the
emergency department. If this is not possible and it is located within the emergency
department, patient flows should be separated where possible to maximise privacy and to
minimise disruption. A separate secure entrance for use by community emergency mental
health teams and police may be desirable.
Patients should be continuously observable by staff either directly or via closed circuit
television.
Safety for staff

The designated area should be within close proximity of other continuously staffed areas of
the department, with ready access to assistance when required. As far as possible, the facility
should not contain objects that could be thrown at staff. There should be two separate exits to
allow escape of staff if one exit is blocked. The exit doors should open outwards, and should
be lockable from the outside but not from inside. If a window is incorporated, it should be
made from shatter-proof material. All window furnishings such as shading devices etc., should
be appropriately designed and located so that they cannot be accessed by patients and used for
potential self harm. All areas should have readily accessible duress alarms. Mobile, wireless
duress alarms may be worn by staff.
Safety for patients

As far as possible, the area should be free of heavy or breakable furniture, sharp or hard
surfaces which could injure an uncontrolled patient, and should also incorporate tamper
resistant electrical fittings. It should also incorporate interior design features that promote
calmness, such as muted colours and soft furnishings and appropriate lighting.
Patient tracking devices may enhance security.
Privacy
The area should be separate enough from adjacent patient care areas to allow both privacy for
the mental health patient and protection of other patients from potential disturbance or
violence. There should be both acoustic and visual separation from adjacent clinical areas, but
ready access for staff in the event of an urgent need for intervention. The incorporation of
sound-insulating material is recommended.
Intravenous sedation
An appropriate clinical space should be available for the rapid and safe IV sedation of
uncontrolled patients. This must include sufficient space for a bed or trolley, several staff, and
appropriate monitoring for the care of a heavily sedated patient. According to departmental
policy, this may be a clinical bay in the acute treatment area, or a separate facility may be
provided in the mental health area. Operational policies should ensure that any patient who
has received sedation which impairs their level of consciousness should be managed in a
clinical area with appropriate monitoring and observation.
Description of Areas
Ideally the facility should contain at least two separate but adjacent areas:
1. Interview Room
This room should have two exit doors, swinging outward and lockable from outside, to allow
for the escape of staff members when one exit is blocked.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
One door should be large enough to allow a patient to be carried through it and consideration
should be given to the installation of a "barn door" (where upper and lower sections of the
door can be opened independently or together). This type of door has the advantage of
allowing direct observation of, and communication with, a patient inside the room without
staff being required to enter the room.
This room should also be:
decorated in muted colours

shielded from external noise
furnished with only soft furnishings with no hard edges (furniture made mostly of
foam rubber have an advantage in this regard)
designed in such a way that direct observation of the patient by staff outside the room
is possible at all times.
arranged to ensure that patients have no access to air vents or hanging points.
fitted with a smoke detector
fitted with a duress alarm at each exit.
Electricity and medical gases should not be available to the patient. The patient must be able
to be directly observed. This may be backed up with closed circuit television for the safety of
staff.
The room is required to be of sufficient size to enable a restraint team of five members to
surround a patient within the room, yet allow sufficient separation between the patient and
restraint team to make it difficult for the patient to strike any member of the team. Because of
this, and the need to avoid enclosed spaces for agitated patients, the room should ideally be
square (or near square) in shape and at least 16m2 in floor area.
2. Examination/Treatment Room
This should be immediately adjacent to the interview room. It should contain adequate
facilities for physical examination, however the inclusion of unnecessary and easily dislodged
equipment should be avoided. If operational policy dictates that IV sedation is to occur in this
area, it should contain the appropriate facilities and monitoring equipment, mounted out of
reach of the potentially violent patient. It should contain the minimum of additional fittings or
hard furnishings that could be used to harm an uncontrolled patient or staff. It should be of
sufficient size to allow a restraint team of five people to surround a patient on a standard
Emergency Department bed and should be at least 16m2 in floor area.
6.8 Consultation Area
Consultation areas are provided for the examination and treatment of ambulant patients who
are not experiencing a major or serious illness requiring resuscitation or monitoring. The
Consultation area may be configured as a Fast Track area for the treatment of patients who
suffer from non-complex and single system conditions. The configuration of the consultation
areas will be determined by casemix and local operational policies.
Each area should be of sufficient size to house:
Service panel as above

Examination couch/trolley
Minimum 12 m2 in area
Desk and three chairs
Computer outlet and terminal
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Consultation rooms may be adapted to serve specific functions:
ENT conditions:
Full ENT set, including suction
ENT microscope
Head light
Tuning forks
Head mirrors
Ophthalmology conditions:
Motorised vision screen
Slit lamp
IV pole
Room should have black out capability/preferably windowless
Ophthalmology trolley.
Dressings:
Dressing trolley
Wall storage for dressing materials
6.9 Plaster Room
The Plaster room allows for the application of Plaster of Paris and other splints and for the
closed reduction under sedative, or regional anaesthesia, of displaced fractures or dislocations.
It must be at least 20 m2 in size, excluding crutch or splint storage areas. Provision for
physiological monitoring during procedures will be necessary.
The following equipment and fitments are required:

Storage for plaster bandages
X-Ray viewing panel (2 panels/bed) or digital imaging system
Monitoring equipment (NIBP, SpO2 , ECG) including access to resuscitation equipment
Nitrous oxide delivery system or storage space for a portable nitrous oxide delivery
system
Storage space of a pneumatic cuff and its gas supply
Plaster trolley
Sink and drain with a plaster trap
Work bench
A splint and crutch store should be accessible to the Plaster room
Pneumatic tourniquet
6.10 Procedure Room(s)
The Procedure room(s) may be required for the performance of procedures such as lumbar
puncture, tube thoracostomy, thoracocentesis, abdominal paracentesis, bladder catheterisation,
suturing etc.
It requires noise insulation and must be at least 20 m2 in size.
Minimal equipment and fittings include:

Operating theatre light suspended from the ceiling with minimum 80,000 lux
X-Ray viewing box/digital imaging system
Monitoring equipment: NIBP, SpO2, ECG with access to resuscitation equipment.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
6.11 Staff Station
The Staff Station in the Acute Treatment area will be the major staff area within the
department. The station should provide an uninterrupted view of patients and the floor may be
raised to achieve this aim. It should be centrally located and constructed in such a fashion to
ensure that confidential information can be conveyed without breach of privacy. An enclosed
area is recommended for this reason and also to provide security of staff, information and
privacy. The use of sliding windows and adjustable blinds can be used to modulate external
stimuli and a separate write up area may be considered. The staff station(s) must be at least
10m2 in size or 1m2/1000 yearly attendances, whichever is larger. Ergonomic design is
essential.
The following equipment and fittings should be accessible:
Telephones
Direct line for GP admitting calls only
Direct line telephone for incoming Ambulance/Police use only
Computer terminals
Printer
Facsimile machine
Photocopier
GPOs
X-Ray viewing boxes/digital imaging systems
Dangerous drugs/medication cupboards
Emergency and patient call display
Under-desk duress alarm
Valuables storage
SES emergency radio
Police blood alcohol sample safe (where required)
Storage for stationery
Pneumatic tube access or similar for specimens to Pathology, the transfer of medical
records and medical imaging requests
Writing and work benches
Part of the staff station should be acoustically isolated from the remainder of the
department in order to allow privacy of confidential medical discussion
6.12 Short Stay Unit
A Short Stay Unit is used to describe a unit managed within and by the Emergency
Department whose prime orientation is to manage acute problems for patients with an
expected length of stay of less than 24 hours. Where provided, a short stay unit should be
facilitated similar to a hospital ward. 8 beds is considered to be the minimum functional size.
The configuration of the short stay unit should be a minimum of 1 bed per 4000 attendances
per year. This figure will be influenced by the function and case mix of the unit. All beds
should be capable of physiological monitoring at least similar to an acute cubicle. There
should be a separate staff station of an appropriate size and an office for the nurse unit
manager/clinical nurse consultant. Hospital beds (not ED trolleys) must be provided.
6.13 Medical Assessment and Planning Unit
A Medical Assessment and Planning Unit (MAPU) is used to describe other hospital units
which may be co-located with the Emergency Department. The prime orientation is to provide
streamlined and intensive assessment utilizing multidisciplinary team interventions in the
management of the acutely ill patient to optimize process, length of stay and health
outcomes.as an alternative to the traditional inpatient units. This unit is usually managed and
staffed by inpatient medical teams. The configuration and function of each MAPU will be
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
determined by case mix and local operational policies. Generally, the MAPU will be
configured for up to 30 inpatient beds where patients will be accommodated in standard ward
style arrangements.
7. WAITING ROOM
The waiting area should provide sufficient space for waiting patients as well as
relatives/escorts. The area should be open and easily observed from the Triage and Reception
areas. Seating should be comfortable and adequate space should be allowed for wheelchairs,
prams, walking aids and patients being assisted. Zoning of the waiting room should be
considered, with quiet areas, a television lounge, and family or small group areas.
Natural lighting should be maximized.
There should be an area where children may play with suitable furnishings. Infection control
should be considered.
Television should be available but should not dominate the waiting area or be unduly noisy.
The ability to broadcast department status information or public health messages is desirable.
The use of art, photographs and murals, particularly of nature scenes, should be considered.
There must be access to:
Triage and Reception areas

Toilets
Baby change room
Light refreshment facilities which may include automatic beverage dispensing
machines.
Telephones, taxi phone and change machines
Health literature
It is desirable to have a separate waiting area for children. This area should be suitably
furnished, including a Video/TV, and provided with equipment for safe play activities. It is
separated for sound from the general waiting room and must be visible to the Triage Nurse.
The waiting area must be of a total size of at least 5.0m2 /1000 yearly attendances in area, that
includes seating, telephones, vending machines, display for literature, public toilets and
circulation space. The waiting room should include one seat per 1000 yearly attendances.
The area should be continuously monitored by electronic surveillance to safeguard security

and patient well being.
7.1 Security Room
The location of an office for security personnel near the entrances should be considered.
This room should be so positioned as to enable direct visualisation of the waiting room, triage
and reception areas with immediate access to these areas being essential. Remote monitoring
of other areas in the department by CCTV and of staff duress/personal alarms should also
occur from this area.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. RECEPTION/TRIAGE AREA
The department should be accessed by two separate entrances; one for ambulance patients and
the other for ambulant patients. It is recommended that each entrance area contains a separate
foyer that can be sealed by the remote activation of security doors. Access to treatment areas
should also be restricted by the use of security doors. The ambulance entrance should be
screened as much as possible for sight and sound from the ambulant patient entrance. Both
entrances should direct the patient flow towards the Reception/Triage area. The
Reception/Triage area should have clear vision to both the waiting room, the children's play
area (if provided) and the ambulance entrance. Assessment, observation and first aid are
provided in the Reception/Triage area which should have visual and auditory privacy.
The Triage area should have access to the following equipment and fittings:
NIBP monitor
SpO2
GPOs
Computer terminal with printer, security mounted
Handbasin for hand washing, equipment for standard precautions
Towel rail
Examination light
Mobile examination trolley
Telephone
Chairs and desk
Scales
Storage space for bandages, basic medical equipment, stationery
Whiteboard
9. RECEPTION/CLERICAL OFFICE
Administrative staff at the reception counter may receive patients arriving for treatment and
direct them to the Triage area. After assessment at the Triage area, patients or relatives will
generally be directed back to the Reception/Clerical area where clerical staff will conduct
registration interviews, collate the medical record, and print identification labels. When the
decision to admit has been made, clerks interview patients or relatives at the bedside or at the
reception counter to finalise admission details.
The counter should provide seating and be partitioned for privacy at the interview. There
should be direct communication with the Reception/Triage area and the Staff Station in the
Acute Treatment/Observation area. The area should be designed with due consideration for the
safety of staff, and access for the disabled.
Other functions may include:
General enquiries from the public

Processing loans of surgical aids
The receipt of monies
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Reception/Clerical office should have access to the following equipment and fitments:
Computer terminals
Telephones
Facsimile machine
Photocopier
Computer printers
Storage space for stationery and medical records
GPOs
Work bench
The combined area of the reception/triage/clerical area should be at least 1.8m2 /1000 yearly
attendances (not including storage areas for medical records).
10. TUTORIAL ROOM
This room provides facilities for formal undergraduate and postgraduate education and
meetings. It should be in a quiet non-clinical area, near the Staff room and offices.
Provision should be made to have the following available:
VCR/DVD R
Television
Slide projector
Overhead projector
Projection screen
Whiteboard
Computer terminal and outlet
Digital projector
X-Ray viewing facilities/digital imaging system
Telephone
Examination couch
Storage cupboard, large enough to store simulation mannequins and training materials
This room must be at least 0.8m2/1000 yearly attendances in area.
10.1 Library
A quiet area containing appropriate written, audiovisual and electronic reference materials.
Ideally, all computer terminals will be able to access knowledge databases.
10.2 Telemedicine Area
Departments using telemedicine facilities should have a dedicated, fully enclosed room with
appropriate power and communications cabling provided. This room should be of suitable size
to allow simultaneous viewing by members of multiple service teams and should be close to,
or integrated with the Staff Station.
11 ADMINISTRATION AREA
Offices provide space for the administrative, managerial, safety and quality, teaching, and
research roles of the emergency department.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Consistent with the role delineation of the Emergency Department, office space should be
provided for the following:
Director
Deputy Director
Director of Emergency Medicine Training
Director of Emergency Medicine Research
Nurse Manager
Nurse Educator
Nurse Practitioner(s)
Staff Specialist(s)
Registrars
Secretary
Social worker/Mental health crisis worker
Information support officer/data manager
Research and project officers
Clerical supervisor
Other support staff as necessary (eg CARS nurse, Aged Services Emergency Team,
dedicated allied health etc)
All departments should incorporate private meeting room/s into the office area.
The total office area must be at least 4m2 /1000 yearly attendances. Offices should be at least
9m2 in size and be equipped with a telephone and computer terminal. Open plan offices with
multiple workstations may be suitable.
12. CLINICAL SUPPORT AREAS
12.1 Clean Utility
This should be of sufficient size for the storage of clean and sterile supplies and should
possess adequate bench top area for the preparation of procedure trays and equipment.
12.2 Dirty Utility/Disposal Room
Access should be available from all clinical areas.
There should be sufficient space to house the following:
Stainless steel bench top with sink and drainer

Pan and bottle rack
Bowl and basin rack
Utensil washer
Pan/bowl washer sanitiser
Flushing sink
Storage space for testing equipment, eg. urinalysis
An optional disposal room adjacent to the dirty utility should be considered.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
12.3 Equipment/Store Room
This is used for the storage of equipment (eg. IV poles) and disposable medical supplies for
the department. There should be sufficient space and GPOs to store and charge battery
powered equipment, eg. infusion pumps. The total area of dedicated store rooms must be at
least 2.2m2/1000 yearly attendances. This does not include storage space within treatment
areas. As a general principle, emergency departments should have sufficient storage space to
carry one weeks supply of disposable medical supplies and intravenous fluids. Local logistic
issues and risk management considerations may dictate larger storage capacity.
12.4 Pharmacy/Medication Room
Used for the storage of medications used by the department. Entry should be secure with a
self-closing door. The area should be accessible to all clinical areas and have sufficient space
to accommodate a pharmacy preparation area, the pharmacy impress system, and a refrigerator
suitable to ensure cold chain integrity. Consideration of the space requirements for automated
dispensing machines may need to be considered.
12.5 Linen Trolley Bay
12.6 Mobile Radiology Bay
This is used to house and charge mobile x-ray equipment which should be readily accessible
to the major treatments areas including the Plaster room.
12.7 Trolley/Wheelchair/Hoist/Gazunda Bays
12.8 Beverage Bay with ice maker
12.9 Blanket Warming Cupboard
12.10 Disposal Room
12.11 Disaster Equipment Store
This should be located near the Ambulance Entrance and should be of a size consistent with
the role of the ED in a major incident or disaster. There needs to be hanging space for
specialised clothing/protective suits, work benches for equipment checking and GPO's for
battery banks.
12.12 Cleaners Room
12.13 Patient Bathroom
Shower and toilet facilities

Hospital bath with hoist
12.14 Interview Room
This is used for relatives who may be interviewed or counselled in private. It should be
acoustically treated and be removed from the main clinical area of the department.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
12.15 Distressed Relatives' Room
All emergency departments should have a distressed relatives room. Departments with more
than 25,000 yearly attendances should have 2 rooms for the relatives of seriously ill or
deceased patients. They should be acoustically insulated and have access to beverage making
facilities, a toilet and telephones. A single room treatment area should be in close proximity to
these rooms and should be of a size appropriate to local cultural practices. In departments with
less than 25,000 yearly attendances a single distressed relatives' room is usually sufficient.
12.16 Laboratory
A designated area for performing point-of-care investigations such as arterial blood gas and
electrolyte analysis and urine testing should be considered.
13. STAFF FACILITIES
13.1 Staff Room
At least one room should be provided within the department to enable staff to distress during
rest periods.
Food and drink should be able to be prepared and appropriate table and seating arrangements
should be provided. It should be located away from patient care areas and have access to
natural lighting and appropriate floor and wall coverings. The staff room should be based
upon the number of staff working at any one time and their anticipated needs, and as an initial
guide, this should be at least 0.8m2 /1000 yearly attendances adjusted depending on staff
numbers.
13.2 Staff Change/Lockers/Toilets/Shower Facility
Access to male and female staff change, locker rooms and shower facilities should be
available. Appropriate security and restricted access to this area should be available.
14. SECURITY
The emergency department receives a large number of patients and their visitors, many of
whom may be distressed, intoxicated or involved in violence. The hospital has a duty of care
to provide for the safety and security of employees, patients and visitors. Policies, structures
and training should be in place to minimise injury, psychological trauma and damage or loss
of property. The precise details of security features should be designed in conjunction with a
security risk assessment for the specific site. The following specific security issues should be
considered:
14.1 Perimeter Access Control
Ambulatory and Ambulance entrances should be separate, with electronically operated locks,
and glass should have high impact resistance. Access from the waiting areas to the treatment
areas should be controlled. There should be restricted access from the remainder of the
hospital into the ED.
14.2 Design of Reception/Triage Areas
The interface between the waiting areas and the reception/triage areas should be carefully
designed so as to permit appropriate communication, to patients and visitors. It should also
provide an unobstructed view of the waiting area, whilst maintaining adequate safety for staff.
Security can be provided through counter design, vertical partition or other methods. The
reception/triage area should be designed to cater for the easy access of wheelchair bound or
otherwise disabled patients.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
14.3 Duress Alarms
Fixed and/or personal duress alarms should be positioned in suitable areas as suggested by the
security risk assessment.
14.4 Security Personnel
Uniformed security personnel may be required at very short notice to assist with a safety or
security issue. Their base should be positioned either within or immediately adjacent to the
ED, with rapid communication links.
14.5 Electronic Surveillance
Relatively secluded or isolated areas should be monitored electronically (for example, by

closed circuit TV), with monitors in easily visible and continuously staffed areas.
Bibliography/Further Reading
Emergency Unit Design Guidelines, Health Department of Western Australia Facilities Unit, 1995.
Huddy J, McKay. The Top 25 problems to avoid when planning your new emergency department, J
Emergency Nursing, 1996;22(4):296-301.
A look at our new emergency department Series, J Emergency Nursing, 1992-1996.
Mlinek EJ and Pierce. Confidentiality and Privacy Breaches in a University Hospital Emergency
Department, Academic Emergency Medicine 1997, Vol 4, 1142-1146
Huddy, J. Emergency Department Design - A Practical Guide To Planning For The Future, ACEP,
2002
McKay JI. Building the Emergency Department of the Future: Philosophical, operational and physical
dimensions, Nursing Clinics North America. 2002 Mar; 37 (1): 111-22, vii
Design Guidelines for Hospitals and Day Procedure Centres, Department of Human Services, VIC
2004
Ulrich, R. et al. The Role of the Physical Environment in the Hospital of the 21st Century: A Once in a
Lifetime Opportunity, 2004
Christie,C. Waiting for Health Strategies and Evidence for Emergency Department Waiting Areas,
Inform ED Program, 2005
Kennedy MP. Violence in Emergency Departments: under-reported, unconstrained, and
unconscionable, MJA 2005; 183: 362-365
American Institute of Architects/Facilities Guidelines Institute. 2006 Guidelines for Design and
Construction of Health Care Facilities
InformED Program. Emergency departments promoting health. Health by design designing a health
promoting emergency department. Available at: http://www.inform-ed com/project details.asp?id=74
http://www.akhdem.co.nz/newed.htm
http://www.qehae.dircon.co.uk/gallery/tour.htm
www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com
http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/crm/crm010t.html
G15 Adopted by Council October 1998

Revised March 2007
This document is Copyright and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without prior permission

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GUIDELINES

This is a living document which will evolve as emergency medicine develops.

The management of paediatric patients

The management of patients following sexual assault

Information which would assist in the planning of an emergency department include

Annual census and trends

2. MAJOR SPACE DETERMINANTS

Ambulance and ambulatory entrances

2.2 Total Size

2.3 Total Number of Treatment Areas

The functional relationships may be summarised by the following diagram:

Ambulance Car Parking Inpatient wards

3.1 Medical Imaging

3.2 Medical Records

3.3 Intensive Care Unit and Coronary Care Unit

3.4 Operating Rooms

Proximity is desirable to enable prescriptions to be filled by patients with limited mobility.

4.2 Site Selection

If redevelopment is planned, the disruption to the function of the emergency department

4.4 Access and Car Parking

Undercover parking should be available for:

4.5 Fire Safety

Emergency Departments should be constructed to comply with fire regulations.

4.6 Grouping of Rooms - Functional relationships

An emergency department is comprised of the following functional areas:

4.7 Bed Spacing

4.9 Sound Control

4.10 Service Panels

Service panels should be minimally equipped as follows:

a. Resuscitation room (for each patient space)

b. Acute Treatment bed - adult and paediatric

c. Procedure room/suture room/plaster room

e. External service panels

4.11 Physiological Monitors

4.12 Storage Around Bed

4.14 Medical Gases

Medical gases should be internally piped, to all patient care areas.

4.17 Air Conditioning

4.18 Information/Communications Support

Emergency departments are high volume users of telecommunications and information

An electronic emergency department information system should be installed to support

4.19 Patient Call Facilities

4.20 Emergency Call Facilities

4.21 Duress Alarm

4.22 Hand Washing Facilities

4.23 Emergency Power

4.24 Wall Finish

4.25 Floor Covering

Non slip surface

4.26 Wall Clocks

4.27 Electricity Supply

5. DESCRIPTION OF PATIENT FLOWS

Womens & Resuscitation Mental

Short Stay Unit

Patients may be directed to:

In areas a. - c., consultation/examination/investigations/treatment will be performed either in

5.4 Patient and Visitor Exit Routes

5.5 Disasters - Chemical Biological, Radiation Incidents

6. ESSENTIAL CLINICAL AREAS