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Hospital Ecology
Josip Čiček
Abstract
A review of hospital ecology during the history of mankind is presented. It is noted that hospitals in ancient times and sanatoriums in subsequent historical periods were not accidentally located in natural ambient to take advantage of the most favorable factors of natural environment. Ancient medicine lacked the knowledge of the etiology of many diseases, thus tending to ensure optimal ambient and environmental conditions in the then hospitals. This tendency continued up to the discovery of infectious disease agents. Owing to the significant amount of knowledge and huge technological progress in current clinical medicine, modern hospitals are characterized by immense interpenetration and interaction of numerous factors, producing a major problem of preserving and maintaining the premises as free as possible from the potential adverse effects on both service users and providers. The use of novel materials and technologies entails new problems such as the sick building syndrome. The most important elements of hospital ecology are presented in detail, along with proposals for improvement of the condition in this segment of health care.
Keywords
Hospitals - environmental monitoring; Ecology; Occupational diseases - etiology; Risk factors
Hrčak ID:
14081
URI
Publication date:
1.5.2006.
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