Exploring the role of Modelling, Simulation and Visualisation (MSV) in innovating healthcare environmental design

There exists a global and national need for improved understanding of how innovative solutions can be developed and applied to the therapeutic design of new hospitals. This necessity is growing as National Health Service (NHS) infrastructures face challenges of: overcrowding; thermal energy use and comfort; lighting; hygiene and Health Care Acquired Infection (HCAI); and ventilation. These issues emphasise considerable need for change in the way hospitals are designed in order to become built environments that promote health, and enhance patient wellbeing, staff performance, operational efficiency and medical outcomes. This paper reviewed current literature and tools relating to advances in MSV technology, particularly in: 3 Dimensional (3D) Computer Aided Design (CAD); Building Information Modelling (BIM); Parametric Modelling and Environmental Simulation; Construction Simulation; Virtual Reality (VR); and Facility Planning and Design Simulation. Their applicability to healthcare environmental design was reviewed to identify: examples of good practice; evidence based solutions and current trends; and conceptualise a Virtual Health Promoting Environment (VHE) that integrates MSV tools for optimised building performance. It was discovered that MSV has an important role to play in facilitating innovation and stimulating change from traditional healthcare design approaches to new approaches that support healthcare environmental design aimed at increase in the evidence base and optimisation of performance within multiple environmental parameters.