A Study on the Application of Universal Design in Medical Facilities

The purpose of this study is to examine previous studies with the aim of accommodating the needs of various users of domestic medical facilities and improving accessibility and usability of facilities, and to analyze obstacles in stages according to access to medical facilities and medical lines through current status surveys and expert interviews, and to propose a user-centered universal design approach. In order to present basic data on the universal design of medical facilities, this study first reviewed regulations applicable to domestic law and considered the classification system of medical facilities through consideration of laws related to domestic and foreign medical facilities. In addition, interviews with experts and users were conducted to identify the necessity of applying universal design to medical facilities and problems with current medical facilities, and problems and improvement directions were presented through a current survey of a total of 15 medical facilities from hospitals to advanced general hospitals. Through this, the laws related to the construction plan of medical facilities provided the basis for providing evidence, design, and installation guidelines from the perspective of universal design through the Building Act, the Medical Act, the Convenience Act for the Disabled, and the Fire Protection Act. Second, it is intended to derive elements necessary for the composition and planning of unit spaces such as ward space, treatment rooms, and examination rooms that are not presented in laws and guidelines. Third, medical facilities should be improved from a universal design point of view, taking into account the access and use of all users, and appropriate facilities and facilities for the contents stipulated by the Convenience Act, such as the disabled, are essential. In this respect, this study attempted to lay the basic foundation for the application of universal design in medical facilities, and it is expected to be used as basic data for medical service planning and medical facility construction planning in the future.