Challenges and opportunities for the design and construction of a sustainable hospital

Sustainability has received increased attention in many countries worldwide, especially in sustainable hospitals, which are essential for green and smart cities. Sustainable hospitals need to provide all aspects of prosperity, including healthcare, a clean environment, and the best treatment for the patient. This research aims to present a systematic literature review to investigate the challenges and opportunities during the life cycle of sustainable hospitals. A total of 151 peer-reviewed articles published between 2000 and 2023 were analyzed using thematic analysis. The review was guided by three research questions focusing on key challenges, emerging opportunities, and sustainability indicators. This paper highlights five main categories. The contribution of this study is to summarize the factors and challenges that face the design and construction of sustainable hospitals. This study will help the decision-making in the preliminary and conceptual design stage for sustainable hospital buildings. Furthermore, it presents various opportunities for sustainable hospitals during the life cycle costing (design, construction, and operation). This study illustrates the lessons learned in designing and constructing sustainable hospitals that help decision-makers design and build a new hospital as a sustainable building to achieve a LEED standard that incorporates environmentally sustainable construction practices and energy-efficient design.