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Media Contact: Natalie Zensius , tel. 925.521.9404, ext. 118

CHER BECOMES PART OF THE CENTER FOR HEALTH DESIGN

November 9, 2006 - The Center for Health Design (CHD) and the Coalition for Health Environments Research (CHER) are pleased to announce that CHER is now a part of CHD. CHD is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization formed in 1993 whose mission is to transform healthcare settings into healing environments that improve outcomes through the creative use of evidence-based design. Its voluntary board of directors guides the work of paid staff that manages and directs the organization’s research, education, outreach, and advocacy efforts.
 
CHER is a nonprofit organization staffed and directed by volunteers that was originally founded in 1999 by the AIA Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) to promote health environments research. It left the Academy in 1999 to form an independent 503(C)3 corporation in order to allow other organizations to join with the founders in making the overall research effort more effective. Many CHER volunteers have also been actively involved in CHD’s work over the years.
 
“Together, CHD and CHER will have a much greater impact on the healthcare and design industry,” said Debra J. Levin, President, CHD. “We will be able to seek funding for research projects as one organization and use The Center’s resources to promote and disseminate the work so that more people have access to it.”
 
"In our short history, CHER has completed or has underway nine nationally significant research studies. The additional support and resources of the CHD will greatly enhance our efforts in adding to the ever growing body of evidence-based design research,” said Franey. “We are excited about the future and pleased to join forces with and become part of The Center.”
 
Under the new structure, the CHER’s governing board becomes the CHD CHER Research Committee, headed by its current chair, H. Bart Franey, co-founder of Wellness Environments Inc. The CHER Research Council becomes the CHD CHER Research Council. Most of the current CHER volunteers will remain actively involved in these two groups, with participation by representatives from CHD’s board of directors and staff.
 
Current CHER dues-paying members will become Affiliate members of CHD. Current CHER projects underway that will available through CHD include research papers on infections, falls, and errors, as well as a national survey to determine the 100 critical issues in healthcare environments, and an analysis of departmental square footage grossing factors.
 
The CHD is a leading research and advocacy organization of forward-thinking healthcare, elder care, design, and construction professionals who are leading the quest to improve the quality of healthcare facilities and create new environments for healthy aging.