International Journal of Contemporary Architecture ”The New ARCH“ Vol. 4, No. 1 (2017) ISSN 2198-7688 ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ B. Meka, V. Navakazi, E. Pallaska: “Improving Hospital Performance in Kosovo: Rethinking Accessibility”, pp. 20–28 20 DOI: 10.14621/tna.20170103 Improving Hospital Performance in Kosovo: Rethinking Accessibility Bardha Meka* 1 , Vlora Navakazi 1 , Elvida Pallaska 2 1 *Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, University of Prishtina Bregu I Diellit, p.n., 10000 Prishtina, Kosovo; bardha.meka@gmail.com, vloranl@gmail.com 2 Institute for Spatial Planning Prishtina; Kosovo, elvida.pallaska@ks-gov.net Abstract Regional Hospitals in Kosovo are now ageing and becoming less easy to operate, still bothered with many insufficiencies. The large number of alterations and additions, which have taken place over the years, resulted in inefficient layouts with the lack of proper access, orientation and circulation. As a consequence of undifferentiated entrances, emergency departments are crowded. The intersection of paths between different users, both horizontally and vertically is evident, increasing the potential for cross infection. The aim of the study was to investigate this problem in regional hospitals in Kosovo and suggest solutions that comply with modern standards. The research consisted on methods for evaluating performance in use, where, in purpose of gathering all available information, the Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) was performed. Analyses were based on indirect and direct modalities. In first case, knowledge and information was gained from scientific literature, while in direct phase, interviews and questionnaires were applied. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of systemized data resulted in recommendations for each critical point, which are a valuable tool for hospital planners, designers and decision – making process. 1. Introduction Considering patients expectation in health care, traditional relationships between patients and hospitals are changing fundamentally. A health service, even if careful and delivered through trained personnel, is devalued where the environments, rather than reflect, contradict any attention to the man [1]. In the preamble of the WHO is stated that Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity [2]. In this sense, it is not a matter of improving the performance of the existing system but the need to develop new models of care, where the patient is no longer regarded merely as a “product” being in hospital to get “fixed” [3]. By recognizing the inseparable link between man and built environment, the concept of humanization in designing of hospitals is being promoted. The building of the future hospital speaks a new language which we must learn the new semantics [4]. The paradigm shift towards patient-centered care becomes inevitable. The Planetree organization is often cited as having started the patient-centred care “revolution” witch philosophy is based on the self-empowerment of patients and an increased role of the experience of all the actors involved [5]. The development within the hospital sector in recent decades has gone from the pavilion hospital, via the block hospital, to the “neighbourhood hospital”, representing the hospital model of today [3]. Good example could be St. Olavs Hospital in Trondheim. It is a modern pavilion type and has a pronounced objective of a high degree of patient focus in the hospital development that brings nature, the city, employees and patients together in an unconventional way [6]. Pavilions seem that are being revived. They allow greater flexibility and versatility of use but also create greater accessibility by health professionals from outside the hospital and by members of the public [7]. They “have great potential in terms of open spaces to be used as roads, pedestrian areas and green spaces” [8]. Keywords: Regional hospitals; POE; Access; Orientation; Circulation Article history: Received: 17 August 2016 Revised: 09 November 2016 Accepted: 03 February 2017