title: Planning ahead: practical hints for designing ambulatory care facilities.
abstract: This article discusses a variety of topics that need to be addressed during the design of an ambulatory care facility, particularly those areas that need to be discussed at the beginning of the project. Topics include life safety/code issues involving building classification, employee safety, and accessibility; regulatory agencies; design issues including design sources, touring comparable facilities, room mock-ups, staff evaluation/wish list, setting standards, and determining responsibility; and medical equipment including planning and current trends. The time you spend planning ahead is time well spent.
authors.affiliation: S/L/A/M Collaborative, Glastonbury, CT, USA.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D001107:Architectural Accessibility; D003625:Data Collection; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005160:Facility Design and Construction / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D010934:Planning Techniques; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States; D014489:United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration