Good design in the health care setting starts by recognizing the basic functional needs, but does not end there—it must also meet the emotional needs of those who use such facilities at times of uncertainty, dependency, and stress.  Flexibility must be a basic feature of any new health care facility to keep it from rapid obsolescence in the face of changing needs and technologies.

Health care facility needs are evolving rapidly, and the direction of that evolution is difficult to forecast with any certainty. New equipment technologies, new treatment methodologies, changes in diseases, and changes in the patient population base all impact the facilities that house them.  As cost pressures increase, health care facilities find themselves in increasing competition for both patients and staff. Architecture serves as an important tool in meeting the demanding functional and technical requirements as well as attracting and retaining the best doctors and nurses.