A Review of Evidence Based Design in Healthcare from Resource-Based Perspective

Recent interest in evidence-based design (EBD) by the U.S. healthcare industry has led to new questions about how to best use this knowledge to improve the efficiency, safety, quality, and sustainability of new or existing facilities. Proponents of EBD claim that it enhances healthcare outcomes by utilizing empirical research to drive decision-making during all phases of healthcare facility planning, design, and construction. It has yet to be shown, however, how the benefits of the EBD can outweigh the upfront costs and lead to a sustained competitive advantage. We examine this possibility by using the resource-based view (RBV) and reviewing the literature over the last several decades. Then, we discuss EBD as a strategic resource by applying the RBV criteria, including value, rareness, inimitability and nonsubstitutability. Lastly, we develop propositions for future empirical studies by considering isolating mechanisms, such as organizational culture, unique historical conditions, and causal ambiguity that could successfully operationalize EBD into a strategic resource.