Value generation through user involvement in healthcare design

This paper reports on the initial outcomes of a postgraduate research about user involvement in healthcare design. The purpose is to highlight the importance of involving healthcare professionals in the design of healthcare buildings, to ensure efficiency in the delivery of care services and to meet user requirements. It is believed that participatory approaches can help to increase value generation for users. A case study is used to describe the user involvement in the early stages of the refurbishment process of a Hospital in Brazil. Data was collected through six interviews, documental analysis, archival record analysis and direct observations. Results suggest that user requirements are better considered in design through participatory approaches. Furthermore, the necessary time to perform healthcare services can be reduced due to more appropriate building reconfiguration. Findings also emphasize the importance of effective management, both by the design team and by users' representatives, to minimize conflicting requirements and to avoid delays in the design process.