Towards the OR of the future: introducing an adaptive and technology-embracing OR wing layout

Purpose: Overageing and climate change cause a need for making processes in the operating room wing (OR wing) more efficient. While many promising technologies are available today, traditional OR wings are not designed for seamlessly integrating these aids. To overcome this discrepancy, we present and motivate multiple ideas on how to transform current architectural design strategies. Methods: The presented concepts originate from expert discussions and studies of the available literature, but also from experiences made in the course of daily care delivery. Additionally, a comprehensive evaluation of current and historic OR theatre designs and the problems which are encountered herein has been conducted. Results: We present three innovative concepts regarding the restructuring of traditional OR wing layouts. To achieve better process optimization, hygiene, and energy efficiency, we propose to divide the OR wing into separate “patient”, “procedure” and “staff” zones. For better flexibility regarding perioperative needs and technology integration, we propose to use a hexagon shape combined with reconfigurable walls for designing operating rooms. Conclusion: The concepts presented herein provide a solid foundation for further considerations regarding perioperative process optimization and seamless integration of technology into modern OR wing facilities. We aim at expanding on these results to develop a comprehensive vision for the OR wing of the future.