Pedestrian and vehicular accessibility in the immediate urban environment of the Portoviejo General Hospital IESS and its adaptation to user-inclusive design

Abstract

The objective was to evaluate the accessibility of the immediate urban environment of the Portoviejo General Hospital of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS), identifying physical barriers that limit inclusion through comprehensive research. This study aims to develop strategies that guarantee equitable access and full participation for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. To achieve this, an observation sheet based on Ecuadorian standards was used, and a survey was administered to 104 people, including users with and without disabilities. The results show that many ramps, sidewalks, and signage do not meet standards, are in poor condition, or are nonexistent. Furthermore, the majority of users expressed dissatisfaction with accessibility, especially at entrances, parking, and signage. This confirmed that much remains to be improved for the hospital to be truly inclusive. As a solution, it is recommended to rebuild safe ramps, improve signage for all, and increase waiting and parking spaces near the entrance. This work helps us understand what an accessible hospital should look like and provides clear guidelines for improving the design of public healthcare spaces.