Contemporary trends in the design of hospital wards in the context of ergonomic issues 85 CONTEMPORARY TRENDS IN THE DESIGN OF HOSPITAL WARDS IN THE CONTEXT OF ERGONOMIC ISSUES Natalia Przesmycka Architecture and Urban Planning Department, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Lublin University of Technology, Nadbystrzycka 38 D, 20-618 Lublin, Poland, n.przesmycka@pollub.pl Abstract: The article presents issues related to the design and modernization of hospital bed units in the context of ergonomic issues. Currently in Poland, most of the health care facilities are being modernized. However, the technical and law regulations specify only minimum requirements and leave a lot of room for interpretation. Designers are usually faced with the task of bringing together the needs of users and investors on a limited budget, and the need to choose functional and aesthetic solutions. The use of Evidence-Based Design (EBD) method, allows to reach optimal solutions, which take into account the needs of both the patient and the personnel. Keywords: healthcare, hospital wards, bed wards, evidence based design for hospital facilities, ergonomics in healthcare. Introduction Among the many sections of modern hospital’s daily operation, bed wards are taking up most of the space and are a place where patients spend the most time while recovering. Modern hospital bed wards are a fairly new architectural concept, since it has it’s source in XIX century process of secularisation of the hospital institution. Which instead of being primarily a charity started to play a role of health care provider. Present-day hospital managers are faced with tough competition in winning the patient over. The hospital building itself can become a valuable asset in the shaping of healthcare facility’s business image. Technological advances in health care are fast, requiring the law regulations to change and adapt for particular spaces. It is eminently present in the modern diagnostics and surgery wards. Hospital bed wards, as spaces primarily utilised for recovery, rehabilitation, therapy and observation of patients, are among the largest of hospital’s areas of functionality and are a place of work for a diverse staff of hospital employees. Work ergonomics in a bed ward are critical for nurses and physicians as well as for technical, cleaning and administration employees. Following the broader definition of ergonomy which aims at “providing organisation and material framework for a human being to achieve physical and material state of well being, seeking optimal solutions for a wide © 2018 The Authors. This is an open access article licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivs License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/) https://doi.org/10.2478/9783110617832-008