Remodel or replace? Deciding what to do with an aging facility.

Abstract

The decision whether to remodel or replace an aging facility turns on such factors as whether the existing building was designed for expansion and how well it has been maintained. The possibility of relocation should be considered with an expansion program even if a move isn't seriously contemplated. To avoid obsolescence, the goal of original hospital design should be a physical plant with built-in flexibility that is able systematically to accommodate changes in medical technology and patient care delivery.