In response to the Coronavirus pandemic and the need for hospital bed space, the American Institute of Architects has established a task force consisting of architects experienced in healthcare facility design, urban design, public health and disaster assistance. To help quickly evaluate and identify alternative care sites, the task force has created a tool that provides a checklist for non-healthcare design experts.

 

"This tool is geared toward flexible and rapid decision making during a public health pandemic," said task force chair Dr. Molly Scanlon, FAIA, FACHA, who is an environmental health scientist at Phigenics. "Our goal was to synthesize decades of healthcare knowledge and experience into a checklist reflecting the key essential elements of healthcare operations to reduce risk and increase safety at an alternative care site."

The COVID-19 Alternative Care Sites Assessment Tool helps individuals recognize appropriate existing buildings for the reuse of temporary patient care. The AIA task force has also created the COVID19 ArchMap, an online resource for architects, designers, engineers and facility owners to share design information and best practices of alternative healthcare sites, generating a research database for the Coronavirus response and future pandemics.