Consider these features when planning your veterinary hospital

By Dan Chapel, AIA, NCARB

Designingan animal hospital means compromising between the practical andprophetic. It's easy to criticize early floor plans or older hospitals.But how could these architects have foreseen future treatment andservice options? Veterinary hospitals are built to serve medicaltechnology, and technology constantly evolves.

Although we can'tpredict all the equipment and features future hospitals will offer, thislist provides a starting point. Whether you're planning to build orremodel, consider these items:

Parkingarea

Signage

Security and safety lighting

Pet reliefarea

Security camera

Building entry

Air/animal escapelock

Nonslip surfaces

Reception area

Cashregister

Computer

Phone/intercom system

Credit-cardsystem

Locking drawers

Ergonomic counter design

TV and VCR forclient-education videos

Scale with remotely mounted digitalreadout

Client courtesy phone

Leashes and leash hooks

Clientrefreshment center

Client restroom

"Case of the Month" educationaldisplay

Children's play area

Separate seating for dog and catowners

Informational displays

Pet adoption center

Retailproducts area

Pet nutrition center

Product displays

Accentlighting

Signage

Businessoffice

Computer

Phone/intercom system

Credit-cardsystem

Locking drawers

Storage

Exam rooms

Examtable

Writing surface

Storage cabinets

Clientseating

Sink

Refrigerator

Exam lights

Radiographviewbox

Lift or folding table

TV and VCR for client-educationvideos

Handouts, specimens, and models

Storage or display ofdispensed items

Medical equipment (otoscope, ophthalmoscope, digitalscale, digital thermometer)

Lab

Sink

Vent hood orexhaust fan

Chemical-resistant work surface

Seating space atcounter

Computer

Lab forms

Gas outlet

Storage

Labequipment (microscope, centrifuge, digital scale, hematologymachine)

Pharmacy

Sink

Chemical-resistant worksurface

Computer

Pharmacy forms

Printer andlabels

Storage

Locked cabinet or keypad safe for controlledsubstances

Treatment/preparation area

Number andconfiguration of workstations

Wet tables

Island counters (wet anddry)

Writing surface

Storage cabinets

Computer

Surgicallights

Sink

Refrigerator

Suction/gas/oxygen system

Gasscavenger system

Exhaust fan

Phone

Radiographviewboxes

Intensive care cages

Clock

Dentalsuite

Tub/table

Surgical light

Dental radiographunit

Suction/gas/oxygen system

Gas scavengingsystem

Sterilizable room finishes

Radiographviewbox

Clock

Phone

Exhaust fan

Medical equipment (scaler/polisher, amalgamator, electrosurgery unit,

anesthetic machine,respirator, pulse oximeter, ECG monitor, autoclave)

Pack/scrubarea

Storage cabinets

Scrub sink and "hands-free"faucet

Pass-through to surgery

Viewing window to surgery

Packpaper

Autoclave

Ultrasonic sterilizer

Washer anddryer

Laundry tub

Instrument cart

Surgery

Surgery lights

Standard lighting

Doorand hardware

Suction/gas/oxygen system

Gas scavengingsystem

Heating, ventilating, and air conditioningrequirements

Sterilizable room finishes

Radiographviewbox

Clock

Medical equipment (surgery table [V-top, adjustable,hydraulic, heated], anesthetic machine, respirator, respiratory monitor,ECG monitor, pulse oximeter, blood pressure monitor, infusion pumps,portable aspirator, air-driven drills and saws, radiosurgery device,electrocautery device, laser surgeryunit)

Radiology

Radiographequipment

Shielding

Radiograph viewbox

Ultrasonographyunit

Film storage

Darkroom*

Developingtank

Automatic processor

Dry/wet work surfaces

Sink

Whitelight/darkroom light

Light-safe door trim

Cassettestorage

Cassette pass-through

Pegboard

Film storage

Exhaustfan

*With new digital radiograph machines, future practices may notneed darkrooms.

Bathing and grooming areas

Elevatedtub

Non-elevated wash area for large animals

Easy-to-cleanfinishes

Threaded hot and cold mixing faucets

Sloped floor anddrain near tub

Leashes and leash hooks

Holding cages

Electricaloutlets for cage dryers

Storage

Exhaust fan

Cagedryer

Vented drying room

Comb-out area

Retail productsdisplay

Hospital ward

Cages

Feline and caninewards

Cat condos

Cat play area

Sink

Treatmentarea

Exhaust fan

Isolation ward

Location in floorplan

Cages

Sink

Treatment area

Special air system (no returnair from this area)

Sterilizable finishes

Exhaust fan

Autopsyarea

Freezer

Food preparation area

Adequate counterspace

Refrigerator

Dishwasher

Sink

Bulk foodstorage

Boarding area

Runs

Sloped floors anddrains

Floor finish

Drain type

Special exhaustsystem

Easy-to-clean finishes (total wash-down)

Threaded hot andcold mixing faucets

Pressure washer

Hose and cleaning toolsstorage

Boarding kennels

Separate from or integratedinto hospital floor plan

Cages and runs

Feline and caninewards

Cat play area

Food storage and preparationarea

Sink

Refrigerator

Dishwasher

Sloped floors anddrains

Flushing drains

Special exhaust system

Easy-to-cleanfinishes

Threaded hot and cold mixing faucets

Hose andcleaning-tools storage

Doctors'offices

Soundproofing

Built-in or freestandingfurniture

Outside window

Private restroom

Phone

Computerwith Internet access

Private entrance from parking area

Path toother hospital areas not visible to clients

Stafflounge

Kitchen area (refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher,sink)

Table and chairs

Waterfountain/cooler

Clock

Lockers

Coat closet

Phone

Employeetime clock

Employee bulletin board

Privaterestroom

Training/conference area

Janitorialcloset

Front/back locations

Easy-to-clean finishes

Threadedhot and cold mixing faucets

Mop sink

Cleaning tools and supplystorage

Central vacuum system

Storageareas

Accessible to where stored items are used

Oxygen and gasbottles

Freight delivery/unpacking area

Bulk food

Paperproducts

Exterior storage

All hospital workingareas

Central vacuum outlets

Easy-to-cleansurfaces

Grounded electrical outlets at all potentially wetareas

Radius corners on all cabinet work surfaces

Covebases

Phone/intercom system (consider locations throughouthospital)

Computer system (consider locations throughouthospital)

Mechanical system (air changes, returnlocations)

Electrical system (requirements for power and lightingdesign)

Plumbing system (requirements for water anddrains)

Exhaust air systems

Designs that meet Americans WithDisabilities Act regulations for clients and employees

Designs thatmeet OSHA Regulations

The author owns Chapel AssociatesArchitects Inc. in Little Rock, Ark., and is a VeterinaryEconomics Editorial Advisory Board member. He speaks atVeterinary Economics' annual Hospital Design Conference andveterinary conferences nationwide. You can reach him atchapelarchitects@alltel.net.

Summer 1999 VeterinaryEconomics