A Set of Criteria for the Assessment of the Suitability of a Building to be Converted for Use as a Healthcare Facility

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the structural criticality of health systems at the international level and acted as a catalyst for their transformation. In Italy, under Mission 6 - Health, the NRRP envisages the strengthening of territorial healthcare by constructing two types of facilities: Community Homes Facilities (CHFs) and Community Hospitals (CHFs). The regulations allow these healthcare facilities to be built from scratch or by reusing existing buildings, an option that fits into a circular economy framework that favors urban regeneration processes and limits land consumption. The selection of buildings suitable for conversion is a complex decision-making process that requires a rigorous methodological approach capable of integrating both the intrinsic characteristics of the buildings and the extrinsic characteristics of the territorial context. This research, through a systematic review of the literature and regulatory frameworks, proposes five evaluation criteria to assess the degree of suitability of a building to undergo a re-functionalization process in favor of CHFs. The adoption of this methodological framework provides evidence-based support to policymakers and urban planners, facilitating informed site selection and contributing to an effective and sustainable reorganization of territorial healthcare.