District Health Facilities

Presents detailed richly illustrated guidelines for the planning and design of district hospitals including extensive information on the selection and maintenance of medical and laboratory equipment. The aim is to help administrators and the hospital planning team to make the right decisions when matching needs with resources choosing construction materials or equipment anticipating recurrent costs planning for future expansion and looking for ways to assure that services are both attractive to patients and affordable. The book has two main parts. The first devoted to hospital planning and design presents an overview of the complex planning and design process. Conscious of the need to use scarce resources wisely the book stresses the crucial importance of careful advance planning by a multidisciplinary team. Solutions proposed are intended to facilitate the efficient utilization of space the easy movement of people equipment and supplies and the most cost-effective expansion of facilities at a future date. Readers are also given advice on how to make the best use of economical construction methods and local manpower while at the same time benefiting from the latest technological developments. The second part provides guidelines for selecting the equipment normally required in district hospitals and for assuring regular maintenance. The book also advises technical personnel on the things to look for and procedures to follow during routine preventive maintenance.