As health care shifts, so do codes

摘要

To provide quality health care coverage and services in rural and underserved areas, health care providers are looking for alternative options to traditional, full-size medical facilities. Microhospi-tals and medical office buildings are becoming more relevant as they provide the same high level of service to meet patient needs, but in a smaller footprint. Microhospitals are facilities that offer many of the same services and at a similar level that a typical hospital provides, but with a smaller bed count. MOBs, typically consisting of administrative offices, exam rooms and support spaces for private practice groups, are now providing supplementary services such as imaging, outpatient procedures and other clinical services that historically were only provided in a traditional hospital environment. The challenge that health care facility engineers and designers are now facing is ensuring that these smaller facilities are compliant with the same building codes and standards governing the larger, more traditional health care facilities.