Key Design Concepts

The planning and development of the Chinese medicine hospital (CMH), being Hong Kong’s first flagship Chinese medicine (CM) hospital, must be able to meet the unique regulatory requirements in Hong Kong and the needs in fulfilling the given missions and functions. As a change driver which seeks to promote the service development, education and training, innovation and research, and become a reference model for many other regimes, the CMH will be planned and designed to be capable to rise to the challenges ahead as a result of the ever developing knowledge, skills and technologies in CM. The key design concepts include:

(1)	Evolving development
(2)	People first
(3)	Upholding CM tradition and culture
(4)	Intelligent hospital
(5)	Green and environmentally friendly
(6)	Visibility

 

(1) Evolving development

It is expected that the service scope, operation mode, technology adoption and service demand of the CMH will be on an evolving path. Thus, the design of the CMH will be versatile and flexible by adopting features including modular design, flexible architecture and information technology (IT) orientation etc. As a result, the spacing and facilities arrangement of the CMH can be adjusted flexibly according to future evolving service needs and development.

Learn more about modular design of inpatient and day wards of the CMH.

 

(2) People first

The CMH puts people first. Personalised care which are safe, convenient and with high quality will be provided to patients. The CMH will also provide a safe and convenient working environment to staff. The physical environment, layout, design, technology and IT adoption, use of information and the workflow design will be:

• user friendly;
• enabling the delivery of services in the most direct, just in time and a one-stop approach as far as possible with work redundancy eliminated;
• protecting privacy at all times, facilitating personalised care and providing choices to suit individual preferences;
• of a pleasant environment with barrier-free access; and
• enhancing the health and efficiency of staff with a healthy work environment attending to their personal, physical and mental needs, and facilitating open communication and team building among staff.

 

(3) Upholding CM tradition and culture

The CMH aspires to be not only the first of its kind in Hong Kong, but also be missioned to demonstrate the genuine CM ideas as well as to promote CM to patients and the society. The unique identity of the CMH will be reflected in the architectural design where CM traditions and culture are upheld while the unique features of the hospital such as CM meeting western medicine (WM), the infusion of intelligence and modernisation into traditional CM being are also presented as contrasting features. The CMH, being a key platform to promote CM and Chinese medicines (CMs) (中藥) in Hong Kong, will take every opportunity in its physical design to foster the patients and visitors of the hospital to have a better understanding of CM including CMs, which would enhance the communication between CM practitioners and patients for deliberation of condition and treatment program under CM theory. With basic CM knowledge, patients and visitors are encouraged to adopt CM approach in their daily lives in maintaining good health.

 

(4) Intelligent hospital

An intelligent hospital brings together the architecture and design of the hospital, innovative technologies, application of IT, design of workflow and the best healthcare practice to achieve optimal patient care and working environment. The key concepts are:

• the appropriate use of IT and verification tools in managing work processes to significantly improve convenience and ensure accuracy;
• use of workflow design to eliminate intermediate work redundancy;
• use of wireless technology interweaving remote devices and mobile technologies to enable direct information access and transfer in healthcare environment;
• the availability of real-time analysis service to better master and match service demand with supply to eliminate waiting, manage risk and enhance efficiency; and
• the appropriate use of automated systems such as Pneumatic Tube Air Transport Systems and Autonomous Mobile Robot System for transporting medications, specimens, documents, food, linens, consumables and wastes between wards and service departments to increase operational efficiency.

 

(5) Green and environmentally friendly

Energy consumption of a hospital is high due to operational requirements such as 24-hour air-conditioning, use of medical equipment and service support appliances. Material consumption is also high due to requirements in infection control and waste management. The CMH will adopt a multi-pronged approach in saving energy, minimising the use of disposable consumables, migrating to paperless operation as far as possible and instituting a green environment around the hospital premises. It will also take opportunity to promote environmental protection, nature conservation and sustainable development to the users and community.

 

(6) Visibility

The design concept of upholding CM culture, intelligent hospital and environmental friendliness will be visible to patients and visitors to facilitate understanding of their applications, underlying objectives, knowledge and impact.

Video Clip of the CMH design (with Cantonese narration only)

Overall architectural spatial layout

The CMH is built on a sloping hillside, surrounded by greenery and overlooking the sea. It follows and rises with the natural contours of the hillside.

The design for the CMH represents the unique relationship between the tradition of CM culture and the contemporary image of the technological advancement of CM practice, expressed in distinctly contemporary architectural language that embraces the fundamental spirit of its roots. It is also a green hospital powered by modern technology. The central garden and the medicinal plant garden adopted design concepts inspired from natural landscape, bringing nature and nourishing wellness in the CMH.