Geneva university Hospitals (HUG) are undergoing a sweeping modernization to address rising patient demand and improve the experience of outpatient care. The first phase of a multi-year, multi-million franc project is now complete, consolidating services into dedicated “outpatient Plateaus” designed for improved efficiency and patient flow. With nearly 1.3 million outpatient visits recorded in 2024 alone, the reorganization aims to increase capacity by 50% and reflects a broader trend of hospitals adapting to evolving healthcare needs and a growing population [[1]].
Geneva University Hospitals (HUG) have completed the first phase of a major renovation and reorganization project aimed at significantly expanding outpatient care capacity, addressing a growing demand for services.
The project, launched in 2021, is designed to increase the HUG’s ability to handle outpatient consultations by 50%. The move comes as the hospital system saw a more than 15% increase in standard outpatient activity between 2019 and 2024, concluding the year with nearly 1.3 million patient visits.
Streamlined Patient Experience
Previously, patients requiring outpatient care at HUG often navigated multiple buildings to receive complete treatment. The reconfiguration addresses this issue by consolidating all services for each department – consultation rooms, treatment areas, and examination rooms – into a single “Outpatient Plateau.”
The goal is to provide patients with a simplified care pathway and access to modern, brighter, and more spacious facilities. “I’m really delighted, it’s good to see everyone grouped on the same floor,” said Samia, a patient in the pneumology department. “For me, who has respiratory problems, it’s great that I no longer have to go back and forth across the HUG.”
Samia also highlighted the benefits of increased collaboration among healthcare professionals. “When I have a question during an exam, it will be easier to ask if everyone is on the same floor. It’s more spontaneous, and when we’re all together, things move much faster.”
Hospital officials say the changes also foster better communication and teamwork among staff. Consultation rooms, with the exception of those requiring specialized technical equipment, are now organized as shared pools, allowing any member of the medical team to see a patient.
Key Design Principles
• A single, centralized administrative welcome desk
• New, comfortable waiting areas with natural light (eliminating hallway waiting)
• Shared consultation rooms
• Shared conference rooms located near the outpatient plateaus
Three new outpatient plateaus within the Department of Medicine – encompassing nephrology and hypertension, cardiology, infectious diseases, and pneumology, as well as a circulation space – are already operational. This initial phase of construction cost 19.9 million Swiss francs, with an additional 1.1 million francs allocated for related expenses. HUG is funding 78% of the project’s investments, with the state covering the remaining 22%.
Three additional plateaus are planned for completion by 2030, focusing on the departments of endocrinology, diabetology and metabolism, oncology, and hematology. The ongoing renovations underscore the hospital’s commitment to meeting the evolving healthcare needs of the community.
