TY - JOUR T1 - Infrastructure – the key to healthcare improvement JF - Future Hospital Journal JO - Future Hosp J SP - 4 LP - 7 DO - 10.7861/futurehosp.15.002 VL - 2 IS - 1 AU - Linda Luxon Y1 - 2015/02/01 UR - http://www.rcpjournals.org/content/2/1/4.abstract N2 - In this issue, we focus on the infrastructure workstream of the Future Hospital project, and notable figures provide their perspective on the built environment and specific elements of healthcare infrastructure, including architecture, design, commissioning a new hospital, sustainability and information technology, both in the UK and overseas. Particular thanks are due to Tom Downes for editing this special section. Infrastructure must integrate the hospital, as the centre for acute and inpatient care, into the broader health care system,1 and should facilitate the seven domains of quality2 – patient experience, effectiveness, efficiency, timeliness, safety, equity and sustainability. Infrastructure includes the built environment and supporting elements: equipment, access, information technology (IT), systems and processes, sustainability initiatives and staff. Overall these interwoven facets should enable patients to move seamlessly, with their privacy and dignity maintained at all times,3 from initial referral through local hospitals to specialist tertiary centres and discharge to appropriate care (home, care home, or community hospital with intermediate care), whatever the age, disorder or social circumstances of the patient. Infrastructure is a key pillar supporting the fundamental aim of promoting improved standards of care and wellbeing for all patients, together with a good experience of the health care system. In parallel, the healthcare system and staff must support effective health promotion, prevention and self-care of the whole population. ‘Every contact counts’ (www.makingeverycontactcount.co.uk/) and, in this regard, hospitals have a key role in providing contact for disadvantaged population groups, such as the homeless, the abused and addicts, who do not access primary care. In addition, a secondary aim must be to improve the wellbeing of staff, as this is integrally related to ensuring improved care for patients.4 Healthcare sites, including hospitals, should be integrated into the broader community, wherever possible, to promote accessibility, societal ‘buy-in’ and well-being. … ER -