Planning of Hospitals by Bed Strength

Planning of Hospitals by Bed Strength

Introduction

·       Hospital planning is a systematic and multidisciplinary process that determines how health facilities are designed, organized, and operated to meet the needs of the community.

·       One of the key determinants of hospital planning is bed strength, as it influences space requirements, departmental distribution, staffing norms, equipment allocation, and financial investments.

·       The bed strength not only reflects the size of the hospital but also defines its scope of services—ranging from small community-based general hospitals to large teaching and super-specialty centers. Planning by bed strength ensures that hospitals:

·        Deliver appropriate levels of healthcare services (primary, secondary, tertiary).

·        Maintain functional relationships between departments.

·        Provide efficient patient, staff, and material flow.

·        Remain flexible for future expansion.

·        Align with financial, manpower, and policy considerations.

·        Broadly, hospitals are categorized as:

·        Small hospitals (up to 50 beds) – mainly general hospitals providing basic services.

·        Medium hospitals (100–250 beds) – district/general or specialty hospitals.

·        Large hospitals (500–750 beds and above) – tertiary care, teaching, or multi-specialty centers.

Planning of 30-Bedded General Hospital

Purpose

• To serve as a primary/secondary level hospital for a small community or rural area.
• Provides essential curative, preventive, and promotive healthcare.

Functional Units

1. OPD (Outpatient Department):
• General medicine, minor surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology.
• Simple diagnostic services (X-ray, lab, ECG).
2. Inpatient Wards (30 beds):
• Male ward, female ward, maternity ward (10–12 beds each).
3. Emergency & Casualty:
• Basic trauma, stabilization, and referral services.
4. Operation Theatre (OT):
• One major OT and one minor OT.
5. Support Services:
• Pharmacy, dietary services, laundry, stores.
• Medical Records Department (simplified).
6. Administrative Unit:
• Medical superintendent, nursing station, accounts, HR.

Manpower Norms

• Medical Officers: 4–5.
• Specialists (visiting/part-time): 2–3.
• Nurses: 1 per 6 beds (day), 1 per 10 beds (night).
• Paramedical staff: technicians, ward attendants.

Space Requirement

• Built-up area: ~ 1,000–1,500 sq. meters.

Planning of 100-Bedded General / Specialty Hospital

Purpose

• Acts as a district hospital or specialty hospital.
• Provides secondary-level healthcare with some specialty services.

Functional Units

1. OPD Services:
• General medicine, surgery, pediatrics, OBG, ENT, ophthalmology, dental.
• Laboratory, imaging (X-ray, ultrasound).
2. IPD (100 beds):
• Separate wards for medicine, surgery, pediatrics, OBG.
• ICU with 5–10% of beds (5–10 beds).
3. Emergency Department:
• 24/7 services, resuscitation, trauma care.
4. Operation Theatres:
• 2 major OTs, 1 minor OT.
5. Diagnostic Services:
• Pathology, microbiology, biochemistry labs.
• Radiology: X-ray, ultrasound, CT (if specialty).
6. Support Services:
• Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD).
• Blood storage unit.
• Dietary, laundry, transport.

Manpower Norms

• Specialists: Medicine, surgery, pediatrics, OBG, anesthesia, radiology.
• Nursing staff: ~70–80.
• Paramedical & support staff proportional.

Space Requirement

• Built-up area: ~ 4,000–5,000 sq. meters.

Planning of 250-Bedded General / Teaching Hospital

Purpose

• Functions as a large district hospital or a teaching hospital attached to a medical/nursing college.
• Provides secondary and selected tertiary care.

Functional Units

1. OPD:
• Comprehensive specialties: Medicine, surgery, pediatrics, OBG, orthopedics, dermatology, psychiatry, ENT, ophthalmology.
2. IPD (250 beds):
• Medicine (60), Surgery (60), Pediatrics (40), OBG (40), Orthopedics (20), ICU (10–15).
3. Emergency & Trauma Unit:
• Specialized resuscitation and trauma management.
4. Operation Theatres:
• 4–5 modular OTs.
5. Diagnostic Services:
• Advanced labs, radiology (X-ray, USG, CT, MRI optional).
6. Teaching & Academic Facilities:
• Lecture halls, demonstration rooms, library.
• Nursing school or allied health institute.
7. Support Services:
• CSSD, Blood Bank, Central Lab, Pharmacy.

Manpower Norms

• Specialists in all major fields.
• Teaching faculty (Professors, Associate/Assistant Professors).
• Nursing staff: 200–250.
• Paramedical & support services expanded.

Space Requirement

• Built-up area: ~ 10,000–15,000 sq. meters.

Planning of 500-Bedded Super Specialty Hospital

Purpose

• Acts as a tertiary care referral center.
• Focus on super-specialty services such as cardiology, neurology, nephrology, oncology, and transplant surgery.

Functional Units

1. OPD:
• Specialty and super-specialty clinics.
• Preventive and wellness clinics.
2. IPD (500 beds):
• Divided among medicine, surgery, pediatrics, OBG, super specialties (neuro, cardio, renal, etc.).
• ICU, NICU, SICU, MICU (~15–20% of total beds).
3. Emergency & Trauma Centre:
• 24/7 advanced trauma care.
• Helipad for air ambulance (if possible).
4. Operation Theatres:
• 8–10 modular OTs with laminar airflow.
• Dedicated cardiac, neuro, transplant OTs.
5. Diagnostic & Research Facilities:
• Full-fledged imaging: MRI, CT, PET, Cath lab.
• Advanced labs and molecular diagnostics.
6. Teaching & Research:
• Medical college tie-up.
• Research labs, clinical trial units.
7. Support Services:
• CSSD, Central Pharmacy, advanced Blood Bank.
• IT systems, Hospital Information System (HIS).

Manpower Norms

• Senior specialists, consultants, residents, fellows.
• Nursing staff: ~500–600.
• Highly trained paramedics.

Space Requirement

• Built-up area: ~ 40,000–50,000 sq. meters.

Planning of 750-Bedded Multi-Specialty / Teaching Hospital

Purpose

• Large multi-specialty tertiary care and teaching hospital, often linked with a medical university.
• Provides comprehensive medical education, research, and advanced patient care.

Functional Units

1. OPD:
• All general and specialty services + super specialties.
• Preventive, occupational health, rehabilitation clinics.
2. IPD (750 beds):
• Medicine (150), Surgery (150), Pediatrics (80), OBG (80), Orthopedics (50), Super specialties (200), ICUs (100+).
3. Emergency & Trauma Centre:
• Regional trauma center with burn unit, poison center.
• Disaster preparedness unit.
4. Operation Theatres:
• 15–20 OTs, including transplant, robotic, minimally invasive units.
5. Diagnostics & Research:
• All imaging modalities (MRI, PET-CT, SPECT).
• Advanced pathology, genetics, and biotechnology labs.
6. Teaching & Academic Facilities:
• Full-fledged medical college (MBBS, MD/MS, super-specialty courses).
• Nursing, paramedical, and allied health sciences colleges.
• Library, auditoriums, skill labs, e-learning centers.
7. Support Services:
• Large CSSD, pharmacy, central kitchen, mortuary.
• Integrated IT, Telemedicine, Electronic Health Records.

Manpower Norms

• Large pool of faculty, consultants, residents.
• Nursing staff: ~750–1,000.
• Extensive administrative and support staff.

Space Requirement

• Built-up area: ~ 70,000–100,000 sq. meters.

Video Description

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