Wanica Health Center, Suriname
A flagship hospital for Suriname in a tropical climate
Dutch Hospital Design and the Van den Berg group designed this new flagship hospital for the government of Suriname, a small country on the Northern side of South America. The hospital will be situated in the suburb of Wanica situated near Paramaribo, the capital city of Suriname.
The design for this hospital draws its inspiration from the local culture, climate and landscape of Suriname. The design consists of 3 to 4 story towers loosely placed on a raised plinth. These lily shaped towers guide a meandering route through the hospital building, a reference to the meandering rivers of Suriname.
Designing a hospital in a tropical climate has its challenges which resulted in interesting design solutions. Cooling the building in a sustainable manner was a main challenge. Wide overhangs were used to create shade. Aerodynamic ‘ventec’ roofs were also used on the one hand to passively induce an airflow through the building and on the other hand to capture reusable rain water to assist with the cooling of the building. The building is also functionally split into climatic zones. Functions requiring air conditioning are situated in the more climate protected plinth thereby minimizing the energy consumption of these air conditioning systems. Other functions, where natural ventilation is permitted, are situated in the towers.
The design is preliminary and it is expected that the 40.000m² hospital will house around 300 clinical beds.
Read what Elisa Carter says about the design
Disciplines
HIMSS positive over IT integration in Dutch healthcare system
Uwe Buddus, senior consultant of HIMSS Europe expressed positive views on the integration of IT in Dutch hospitals at the opening of HIMSS 2014 in Orlando Florida. “HIMSS is a global, cause-based, not-for-profit organization focused on better health through information technology (IT). HIMSS leads efforts to optimize health engagements and care outcomes using information technology.” 2 members of Dutch Hospital Design are attending the HIMSS14. Below is a translated article by Skipr about IT in the Dutch healthcare sector. The original article in Dutch can be found here.
Placed on 24 February 2014 by Skipr:
HIMSS positive over Dutch healthcare-IT
“Hospitals in The Netherlands are doing relatively well in healthcare IT compared to other European countries. Eight hospitals have reached level 6 in the adoption of information and communication technology” According to Uwe Buddrus, senior consultant of HIMSS Europe, who mentioned this on Sunday the 23rd of February at the opening of ‘We Change Healthcare’, the study trip of Heliview in collaboration with Skipr to the Himss2014 in Orlanda, Florida.
Clinical – decision making and IT
The following hospitals offer complete electronic supported management of images and complete electronic supported clinical decision making: the Amphia Hospital, the Leids University Medical Center, the Radboud University Medical Center, the Sint Lucas Andreas Hospital, the Spaarne Hospital, the Antonius Hospital, the Westfriesgasthuis and the University Medical Center Utrecht. Four other hospitals are preparing to reach level 6 this year.
Diagnostic imaging
Three out of ten Dutch hospitals have reached level 5 of the IT adoption. Additional to digital nursing and decision support, they also have complete digital imaging. They are preparing for level 6 which includes barcoding, complete medical decision making support and the highest medication safety.
Relationship doctors and mangers under pressure
About sixty percent of the Dutch hospitals form a second group which have reached levels 1 and 2 which includes electronic information over diagnostics and medication which is coupled to clinical data about the patient. They still do not see much return on investment and struggle with the changes in processes which put the relationship between managers and doctors under pressure.
Busy agenda HIMSS in The Netherlands
HIMSS Europe has created a busy agenda for The Netherlands in 2014. Visits to hospitals have been planned to check that the certificates of compliance to the IT level actually works in reality. Hospitals who are preparing to reach level 7 will be visited for pre-validation. Uwe Buddruss: “One has to look in the hospital to see if it actually works in reality” HIMSS will roll out a pilot project in the primary healthcare sector in collaboration with Dutch general practioner organizations. HIMSS will take place for the second time on the 6th and 7th of November.
Two Dutch Hospital Design projects featured in recent book publication
Two Dutch Hospital Design projects, The Martini Hospital and Vivaldi Nusing Home, have been featured in the recently published book: “HOSPITAL DESIGN +” by Tianjin University Press.
Follow this link for more information about this publication.