Emergency departments (EDs) in hospitals are hotspots for highly transmissible infectious diseases and pose the most significant risk of viral infection spreading. With the recent COVID-19 outbreak, it became clear that emergency department design must evolve in order to be adequately prepared to handle the epidemic. The purpose of this research is to examine the design of the emergency department at a university hospital using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation based on the ANSYS CFX package. Turbulence Kinetic Energy and Velocity profiles were analyzed to determine which areas of the ED were most susceptible to virus spread. The analysis revealed that three critical areas of the emergency department, namely overnight patient beds, operating rooms, and resuscitation rooms, had significantly higher air velocity, dispersion, and mixing levels than the rest of the department's spaces. According to the two scenarios examined, the possibility of air transmission from these locations to neighboring areas becomes apparent, increasing the likelihood of transmitting the virus from these locations and infecting people in the adjacent areas, including patients and health care providers. Using the results of CFD simulations, a solution in the form of instructions for the arrangement of inlets and outlets, the separation of spaces, and the interior design of the spaces and hallways can be presented to the hospital administration. All of which can be implemented in the current design of the emergency department.

In the Irbid Governorate, Jordan, equitable healthcare facility distribution is vital to ensuring healthcare accessibility and improving public health outcomes. This study investigated the spatial distribution, accessibility, and conformity of healthcare facilities to the Ministry of Health standards to identify areas requiring improvement. Using geographic information systems (GIS), three spatial analyses were conducted: nearest neighbor analysis, buffer analysis, and service area analysis. These analyses comprehensively assessed the healthcare landscape, revealing a random spatial distribution pattern of healthcare facilities; and indicating an absence of structured organization. The buffer analysis revealed concentrations in specific regions, while others were underserved. The Service Area Analysis revealed significant healthcare access challenges, especially in remote areas. The healthcare resource distribution of the Irbid governorate fell short of national and international standards, emphasizing the need for improvements. To address these disparities, policymakers and healthcare authorities should focus on equitably redistributing resources, tailoring allocation to local needs, improving remote area infrastructure, and refining government policies. Continuous monitoring and evaluation are imperative to ensure alignment with international standards and achieve healthcare equity. The insights from this case study provide valuable guidance for regions facing similar healthcare distribution challenges.

Various studies have addressed the issue of privacy and referred to its critical role in shaping the spatial organization and functional configurations of buildings. Residents of public housing projects tend to modify their homes to achieve different functional and occupancy objectives. While the variables that motivate tenants to alter their spatial layouts have been extensively studied, only a few studies have researched the role of privacy as a motivating factor in modifying public housing units upon extended periods of occupancy. Therefore, this study examines the role of privacy as a motivating factor in the spatial layout modification of public housing units in Jordan. It sampled a Jordanian public housing project in which the spatial layout of several housing units has been modified by residents over time. The spatial configuration of the original and the modified version of the housing unit was assessed in terms of visibility, accessibility, hierarchical structure, and the spatial organization of interior spaces. Additionally, face-to-face interviews were conducted with the residents to gain a better understanding of privacy considerations in modified units. The study of Jordanian public housing units revealed that residents carried out various modifications over time that encompassed enclosing balconies with interior living spaces, adding private entrances, or expanding the space of balconies and terraces. The Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA) and J-Graph analyses showed that home modifications precipitated hierarchical spatial relationships that echo established sociocultural traditions in Jordanian society. The data analysis emphasized the key role that privacy plays as a motivational factor for spatial layout transformation. Hence, this research underlines the imperative of integrating sociocultural needs with functional aspects in the process of designing public housing projects. Designers should embed higher levels of flexibility in their masterplans and home layouts. With residents' satisfaction and spatial flexibility in mind, designers should identify and engage concerned stakeholders during the initial stages of planning and design of public housing.

Hospital emergency departments (EDs) are hubs for highly transmissible infectious diseases, posing the highest risk of viral infection transmission. With the current COVID-19 outbreak, it has become clear that the ED design needs to be altered in order to be successful in containing the pandemic. The purpose of this study is to use a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation to evaluate the ventilation system design for an emergency department at a university hospital. The kinetic energy and velocity patterns of turbulence were analyzed to determine which areas of the ED were most susceptible to viral transmission. Additionally, the impact of pressure suction on COVID-19 dispersion has been investigated. Three critical areas of the ED, overnight patient beds, surgical rooms, and resuscitation rooms, all had much higher air velocity, dispersion, and mixing levels than the rest of the department’s spaces, according to the simulation findings. Air transmission from these sites to adjacent regions is a possibility in the scenario studied, increasing the likelihood of the virus spreading from these locations and infecting people in the surrounding areas. The results of these simulations may be utilized to provide recommendations to the hospital administration about the placement of inlets and outlets, the separation of areas, and the interior design of the spaces and corridors.

Nurses’ work environment has apparent implications for maximizing their productivity, satisfaction, and improving patient care. This study aimed to explore the influence of three nursing unit spatial layouts on critical care nurses’ satisfaction and walking behavior at a university hospital. The research used a comparative design by administering a standardized questionnaire, recording walking steps and distances using pedometers, and tracking nurses’ walking behavior. Thirty-six critical care nurses working on the morning shift consented to participate in the research. The study results showed a relationship between the spatial layout of intensive care units (ICUs) and nurses' satisfaction and walking behavior. Questionnaire results indicated statistically significant variations in nurses' satisfaction with the location of the nursing station, the arrangement of patients' rooms, the availability of family space, and the unit's auditory privacy. Nurses in ICU1 were more satisfied with the nursing station's placement and the availability of family space inside patient rooms, while nurses in ICU2 were more satisfied with the patient bed arrangement and the unit's aural privacy than nurses in other units. The pedometer readings and movement maps revealed significant differences in nurses' walking patterns across the three ICUs. The steps, distances, and movement diagrams demonstrated that ICU1 with private rooms outperformed the other units owing to the nurse station's placement and accessibility to patients and support rooms. This study concludes that the ICU design impacts nurses' satisfaction and behavior. The optimum placement of nursing stations, patients' beds, and supporting room reduces walking distance and thus increases nurses’ satisfaction and performance.