Buoyed by spending by the U.S. federal government on VA and Department of Defense hospitals, the survey reported 3,086 projects costing just a little over $66 billion were designed in 2009. Another 1,864 projects costing $38.7 billion broke ground and 2,944 with a price tag of $33 billion were completed.

While some healthcare architecture firms, such as top ranked HDR, had record breaking years, many felt the competition from firms not traditionally involved in healthcare. This is not surprising, but given the specialty nature of healthcare design, the buyer better beware.

Other interesting things in the MHC report are some building trends cited, such as focus on flexibility, smooth workflow, green construction, and evidence-based design (described somewhat accurately as something that “aims to create a healing environment while promoting patient and staff safety”). A two-year $55 billion government stimulus plan in Canada also helped some of the larger healthcare architecture firms grow their business.

If you are a subscriber to MHC, you can read the report in the March 15th issue. PDFs of the report and charts can be purchased at the Surveys, Lists, and Data section of its website. Or, reprints of the published report can be ordered by calling 800-290-5460, etx. 125 or sending an email to modernhealthcare@reprintbuyer.com.

CONCORD, CA (March 11, 2010)–The Center for Health Design, a nonprofit research, education, and advocacy organization announces that Gresham, Smith and Partners, a leading multi-disciplinary design and consulting firm to the built environment, is the first firm to fulfill the EDAC (Evidence-based Design Accreditation and Certification) Advocate Firm commitment of having at least 25% of its healthcare design team EDAC accredited. The Center for Health Design (CHD), which focuses work on the use of evidence-based design, developed the EDAC program as a way to educate and assess individuals on their understanding of how to base healthcare design decisions on credible research evidence and project evaluation results.

“By achieving our goal of becoming the first EDAC Advocate Firm to accredit its team, we are furthering our dedication to providing clients with a staff that understands the importance of evidenced based design and is committed to contributing to the body of knowledge that supports efficient clinical processes,” stated Ken Priest, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, executive vice president of Healthcare, Gresham, Smith and Partners.

GS&P has long been a proponent and practitioner of evidence-based design. The firm designed St. Joseph Hospital in West Bend, Wisconsin, which is the world’s first hospital designed specifically to reduce medical errors. Additionally, GS&P designed Clarian Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana, which is a new facility that features standardized medical/surgical patient rooms that combine components of patient safety. In an effort to gain insight on the functionality of the spaces, the team constructed detailed mock-ups of exam, medical/surgical and LDR rooms as well as basic layouts for a nurse station and operating room. Staff and community toured these full-scale models to give designers their feedback, which was then incorporated into the design.

“We applaud Gresham, Smith and Partners on completing its initial commitment to being an EDAC Advocate Firm,” commented Debra Levin, President and CEO of CHD. “We are confident that by making a long term commitment to developing the practice and knowledge of evidence-based design, the firm will help improve outcomes for its clients and be a leader in the field.”

“By becoming an EDAC Advocate Firm, we have created a culture that is accelerating the application of credible research in design to improve patient and staff well-being, and contributing new evidence, which is equally as important. We anticipate additional healthcare design staff will become EDAC accredited as we continue to apply research evidence in all of our designs to support improved outcomes,” stated Sheila Bosch, Ph.D., EDAC, LEED AP, GS&P’s director of Healthcare Research.

CHD began development of EDAC in 2005 with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The program now offers study preparation resources, access to healthcare design expertise, a comprehensive accreditation exam, and continuing education. Any industry organization interested in joining in EDAC’s mission to build a community of accredited individuals may partner with CHD to become an Advocate Firm. The current list of partner organizations comprises of an Educational Partner, six Champion Firms, six Advocate Firms and one Pebble Pioneer. Since the exam launched in 2009, over 300 individuals among over have become EDAC accredited.

###

About The Center for Health Design
The Center for Health Design (CHD), formed in 1993, is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization of forward-thinking healthcare, elder care, design and construction professionals and product manufacturers who are leading the quest to improve the quality of healthcare facilities and create new environments for healthy aging. Its voluntary board of directors guides the work of paid staff that manages and directs the organization’s research, education, and advocacy efforts. For more information, visit www.healthdesign.org.

About Gresham, Smith and Partners
Gresham, Smith and Partners (GS&P) provides design and consulting solutions for the built environment that contribute to the success of national and international clients. For more than 40 years, GS&P has focused on enhancing quality of life and sustainability within communities. GS&P consists of industry-leading professionals practicing architecture and engineering design as well as scientists and highly specialized planning and strategic consultants in Water Services, Transportation, Land Planning, Aviation, Corporate and Urban Design, Environmental Compliance, Healthcare, and Industrial Design Services. GS&P consistently ranks among the top architecture and engineering firms in the United States. For more information regarding GS&P, visit www.gspnet.com.

In Fall 2007, The Center for Health Design’s Research Coalition embarked on a research initiative to identify and describe the critical issues in healthcare environments. In this study Principal investigators, Uriel Cohen, D. Arch., and David Allison, M. Arch. utilize a rigorous survey methodology to collate the input of national key constituencies on the challenges they face in their work.

Sponsored by Bayer Material Science, Herman Miller, and Frank Zilm Inc., this report represents the culmination of over two years of effort to provide essential information that can be applied to facility planning, programming efforts and design visioning exercises. Furthermore, this important deliverable will inform the research agenda of The Center for Health Design and other national and international organizations.

The Research Coalition plans to provide periodic updates of this information, which will stimulate further industry engagement, and consequently drive the development of a robust research agenda for all of healthcare design.

# # #

About The Center for Health Design
The Center for Health Design (CHD) formed in 1993, is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization of forward-thinking healthcare, elder care, design and construction professionals and product manufacturers who are leading the quest to improve the quality of healthcare facilities and create new environments for healthy aging. The CHD Research Coalition promotes the dissemination of research that contributes to therapeutic, safe, efficient and effective healthcare settings. The group also strives to support projects that fill critical gaps in the field of evidence-based design (EBD) while growing the network of researchers engaged in EBD by rewarding funds to select EBD research projects. For more information, visit www.healthdesign.org

The founding health systems and partners remain committed to the goals of GHSI, but they determined that there were more efficient and effective ways to achieve sector-wide leadership — particularly in light of today’s economic and political climate.

So, the plan is to fold the work into Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) and its sister organization, Practice Greenhealth (PGH), and make it an initiative of HCWH. This yet-to-be named initiative will continue to focus on patient, workplace, and community health and safety, but will focus more on the impact environmental sustainability has on patient and occupational safety.

The Center for Health Design is planning to continue to be involved in this initiative, as we believe there is a natural link between the evidence-based design process and sustainable building design — particularly as it relates to safety. For example, toxins and resource consumption can be reduced by choosing the right surface materials, air-handling systems, water processing systems, and lighting. In turn, research has shown that many of these design choices help decrease falls, infections and errors.

In the meantime, there are lots of good resources on sustainability and safety the GHSI document library, which will remain live until March 31. Check them out and watch this blog for more information on the “new” initiative.

As a Pebble Partner, Mohawk joins an influential and growing community of selected healthcare providers and industry thought leaders dedicated to advancing the process of evidence-based design (EBD) in healthcare.

“Pebble Partners work together towards a shared vision of safer, healthier and more efficient healthcare environments that produce the highest level of health and economic outcomes. We know that Mohawk will add tremendous value to this effort,” said Debra Levin, president and chief executive officer of The Center for Health Design.

The goal of the Pebble Project, now in its 10th year, is to create a ripple effect in the healthcare community and advance the process of using evidence from research and best practices in the design of healthcare environments to improve patient and staff outcomes. Today, more than 70 healthcare organizations and corporate partners have committed to creating measurable change through the Pebble Project.

“Mohawk strives to be a knowledge-based driven organization,” said Al Kabus, president of The Mohawk Group. “Our alliance with The Center as a Pebble Partner will further our efforts in not only providing products that fulfill the specific and unique needs of healthcare facilities, but it will also help to further our customers’ as well as the industry’s understanding of how carpet selection can positively impact and improve patient outcomes.”

As the design and construction of healthcare facilities becomes increasingly based on the premise of creating healing environments, interior finishes have become an important element to consider in terms of improved staff performance, patient recovery, expedited healing time and financial impact to both the facility and the patient. Carpet, for example, has been utilized to help promote noise reduction, infection control, improved indoor air quality and safety to patients and staff among other attributes. A durable, high-performance carpet is central to well-designed healthcare environments.

“The need for progressive, safe and resource-efficient healthcare facilities is more vital now than ever,” said Keith Gray, technical marketing director for The Mohawk Group and healthcare market expert. “Evidence-based design practices continue to prove increasingly important in helping ensure the building and sustainability of holistic healing environments, making the Pebble Project and Mohawk’s role in it an imperative initiative.”

About The Center for Health Design
The Center for Health Design (CHD) is an interdisciplinary nonprofit research and advocacy organization of forward-thinking healthcare, elder care, design and construction professionals and product manufacturers who are leading the quest to improve the quality of healthcare facilities and create new environments for healthy aging. Learn more about the Pebble Project.

About The Mohawk Group
The Mohawk Group and its four brands – Karastan, Lees, Bigelow and Durkan – are helping to define the new generation of commercial carpeting. A leading manufacturer of award-winning broadloom, modular and custom carpeting for every installation, The Mohawk Group is propelled by its legacy of world class performance, cutting-edge style and sustainable innovation. For additional information about its proven and new generation design solutions, and to learn more about what’s next from The Mohawk Group, visit www.themohawkgroup.com or call (800) 554-6637. Connect with The Mohawk Group on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.

“It is a privilege to work in this capacity with the talented CHD staff and members of the Research Coalition to advance the practice of utilizing research-based evidence to inform the design and development of healthcare environments,” says Weinberg. “I look forward to continuing to build upon the strong research programs of The Center as well as bringing additional focus to the dissemination and application of this important information.”

Frank was previously a board member (Executive Director) of the Coalition for Health Environments Research (CHER) and a member of the CHD Research Coalition over the past eight years, and has been actively involved in evaluating and promoting the role of the built environment in healthcare.

“Frank’s guidance will bring a thoughtful and consistent agenda to the pursuit of integrating evidence-based practice in hospital design and construction,” says Debra Levin, President and CEO of CHD, “and we’re confident that he will continue to advocate for an increase in the awareness of evidence-based design in response to environmental and sustainability issues in healthcare.”

Having spent over 35 years in the healthcare sector, Frank has held positions ranging from direct accountability for the support of a wide array of diagnostic and therapeutic technology to the executive oversight of master facilities planning and development activities. As the current Corporate AVP, Facilities at MedStar Health in Columbia, Maryland, Frank is accountable for all programs associated with the management, support and development of MedStar’s facilities and associated technology. In this position, he is responsible for the system-level oversight of facilities and plant operations, grounds, environmental services, protective services, clinical engineering services, environmental and safety compliance, and construction/renovation activities.

In addition to the pursuit of bringing evidence-based practice to hospital design and construction, Frank has worked to increase the awareness and response to environmental and sustainability issues in healthcare. He is currently on the Board of the Global Health and Safety Initiative (GHSI), USGBC Maryland and the Advisory Board of Maryland H2E.

# # #

About The Center for Health Design
The Center for Health Design (CHD) formed in 1993, is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization of forward-thinking healthcare, elder care, design and construction professionals and product manufacturers who are leading the quest to improve the quality of healthcare facilities and create new environments for healthy aging. The CHD Research Coalition promotes the dissemination of research that contributes to therapeutic, safe, efficient and effective healthcare settings. The group also strives to support projects that fill critical gaps in the field of evidence-based design (EBD) while growing the network of researchers engaged in EBD by rewarding funds to select EBD research projects. www.healthdesign.org

About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a $3.8 billion not-for-profit, regional healthcare system with a community-based network of nine hospitals and other healthcare services in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region. The hospitals, which include both teaching and community facilities, are Franklin Square Hospital Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, Harbor Hospital, Montgomery General Hospital, St. Mary’s Hospital and Union Memorial Hospital in Maryland, and Georgetown University Hospital, National Rehabilitation Hospital, and Washington Hospital Center in the District of Columbia. MedStar Health is based in Columbia, Maryland and as the area’s largest health system, it is one of the region’s largest employers with more than 26,000 associates and 5,300 affiliated physicians, all of whom support MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy that combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service.

At the end of the judging, there was a roundtable discussion in which we talked about a variety of trends and features common to many of the 40 project submittals. (These folks were architects, interior designers, developers, owners, regulators, and other consultants to the long-term care/senior living industries.)

I found the discussion about integrating technology and facility design fascinating. Everyone in healthcare is dealing with it, but in long-term care/senior living facilities, the needs are a bit different. Not only do you need to plan for things like nurse call systems, electronic medical records, and motion sensors, but also for personal computers, sound systems, televisions, DVRs, gaming systems, telephones, etc. — the stuff that all of us have in our houses.

Now I don’t know about you, but anytime my husband or I have to figure out something like setting up a new television or connecting all our devices to a wireless network, it’s complicated. We most always call in an expert. And apparently a new breed of expert — a communications/audio visual consultant — is starting to emerge in long-term care/senior living to deal with all the technology that has to be integrated into these facilities.

One gentleman shared a story about a client who, in order to run a wire through a tight space, brought in a small dog, attached a wire to him, put him into the tight space, and called his name at the other end to run the wire. So actually what you need is a communications/audio visual consultant with a small dog.

All kidding aside, my point is that architects and designers aren’t experts in technology, just as they aren’t experts in landscape or lighting design, or art. So it makes a lot of sense to bring in a communications/audio visual consultant at the very beginning of the project to be a part of the team. Vendors may be able to help with some of it, but it’s the integration of all of it that requires one expert.

It also makes a lot of sense to budget for all of this stuff, especially the personal technology piece — because this is going to be a growing area of importance to the next generation of seniors who will be living in these facilities. And the next generation of seniors is my 75-year old father who has an iPhone, laptop computer, HDTV, DVR, and Playstation.

“As part of our community outreach program, the Environments for Aging.10 Scholarship Program provides an opportunity for those who cannot afford the full registration fee a chance to attend the conference. We have worked very closely with our partner, The Center for Health Design, as well as the American Institute of Architects – Designs for Aging Knowledge Community (AIA DFA), the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), and the Society for the Advancement of Gerontological Environments (SAGE) to build a cutting-edge, all-encompassing agenda. Our goal in providing the scholarships is to expand our audience, in an effort to further the conversations about how to develop practical, affordable, and functional living environments for our aging population,” said Eric Woods, V.P. and Managing Director of Vendome Group.

“Our hope is that the EFA.10 scholarship money will enable both young and seasoned professionals—who would be otherwise unable—to attend. In bringing together newcomers and veterans alike, our goal is to push the boundaries of the conversation and assist in furthering their knowledge and impact they will have on the long-term care industry. With money and budgets being so tight, it is our duty to do whatever is in our power to ensure that we contribute to furthering the education of all industry professionals,” says Woods.

In 2009, the Environments for Aging Conference attracted more than 40 exhibiting companies and 300 attendees. This year, the conference will be held at the Hotel Del Coronado, in San Diego, California, on March 20 – 23.

Visit www.EFA10.com for more information. Apply for this scholarship.

# # #

About EFA.10
Environments for Aging is a comprehensive three-day experience, during which attendees and presenters will explore and share new ideas for creating attractive and functional living environments that meet the unique needs of our aging population. Attendees will share common goals and innovations as well as building, architecture, and design best practices. EFA.10 will provide inspiration through a gathering of like-minded, forward-thinking individuals who have a vision for the future, and who will be instrumental in shaping it.

About The Center for Health Design
The Center for Health Design (CHD), formed in 1993, is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization of forward-thinking healthcare, elder care, design, and construction professionals and product manufacturers who are leading the quest to improve the quality of healthcare facilities and create new environments for healthy aging. Its voluntary board of directors guides the work of paid staff that manages and directs the organization’s research, education, outreach, and advocacy efforts. For more information, visit www.healthdesign.org.

About Vendome Group, LLC
Founded in July 2004, Vendome Group is led by seasoned publishing executives with the passion and drive to achieve Vendome’s mission of serving as one of the most trusted sources of information for business executives and professionals in the healthcare, real estate, chemical, and construction industries. Vendome provides critical information products designed to improve the efficiency and productivity of its business and professional customers. This information is disseminated in print and online products, including magazines, conferences and seminars, newsletters, databases, webinars, and research reports. Vendome Group is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Cleveland, Dallas, and New Hampshire.
www.vendomegrp.com.

Stantec Architecture’s North America–wide practice is committed to research and innovation and dedicated to an integrated approach to the delivery of healthcare design solutions. Their significant depth of resources and experience helps them contribute to the success of their clients through the single-source delivery of market-leading healthcare design solutions. The firm’s Healthcare studio of 350 architects, planners, designers, nurses, and technical staff have been involved in over a dozen research projects outside of normal day-to-day, project-specific design research. The group works with such partners as Providence Health Care in British Columbia, Texas A+M University, and European architects, engineers, and educators to find solutions for improved clinical outcomes and building performance.

“With over 50 years in the industry, Stantec Architecture has established an award-winning reputation in the sustainable design of healthcare facilities,” says Bruce Raber, Practice Leader for Healthcare at Stantec Architecture. “We are more than willing to ‘walk the talk’ and becoming an EDAC advocate firm reinforces our commitment to researching evidence-based solutions to our clients’ challenges.”

“Advocate Firms demonstrate leadership in the industry and a commitment to the evidence-based design process,” says Debra Levin, President and CEO of The Center for Health Design. “As our newest EDAC Advocate firm, Stantec brings substantial expertise and experience to the table. Combined with their dedication to applying research to their design practice, this makes them a valued partner in our efforts to standardize the EBD process across the industry.”

EDAC’s mission is to develop a community of accredited industry individuals through education and assessment of an evidence-based design process. The EDAC program launched in April 2009, and has accredited well over 200 individuals among seven countries across the globe. Stantec is the fifth Advocate Firm aside one Educational Partner, and six Champion Firms. For more general information about the EDAC program, visit www.healthdesign.org/edac.

EDAC Study Guides are available to help individuals prepare for an exam, which then assesses their understanding of how to base healthcare design decisions on credible research evidence and project evaluation results.

# # #

About The Center for Health Design
The Center for Health Design (CHD), formed in 1993, is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization of forward-thinking healthcare, elder care, design and construction professionals and product manufacturers who are leading the quest to improve the quality of healthcare facilities and create new environments for healthy aging. Its voluntary board of directors guides the work of paid staff that manages and directs the organization’s research, education, outreach and advocacy efforts. For more information, visit www.healthdesign.org

About Stantec Architecture
Stantec Architecture’s 800 architectural and interior design staff provide integrated and sustainable solutions from our offices across North America and the UAE, including: Calgary, Edmonton, Kamloops, New York, Philadelphia, Regina, Sacramento, San Francisco, Saskatoon, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Winnipeg, and Doha, Qatar. www.stantec.com.

The article goes on to point all the major hospital systems in the Chicago area that are undergoing new building projects and buying up other hospitals. “Many are spending unprecedented amounts on new buildings and seeing some of their best improvements in cash since the dot-com boom of a decade ago,” writes reporter Bruce Japsen.

I agree that it may seem out of balance with the financial pressures that hospital industry lobbyists are telling Congress, not to mention the millions of uninsured people in this country. But the argument that hospitals and health systems should not make capital improvements and instead provide charity care or reduce the cost of care is a little short sighted.

There are a lot of reasons why hospitals and health systems decide to replace or renovate buildings, but mostly this is happening because their facilities are 40+ years old, more costly to operate, and don’t support current technology. By investing in new facilities, most are creating healthcare environments that are more efficient, safer, and less stressful for both patients and staff. (Using research and data from actual facilities, The Center for Health Design has made the business case for building better buildings.)

It doesn’t cost the patient any more to visit a brand new hospital vs. a 50-year old one. But it does cost the hospital or health system more to own and operate a 50-year old hospital vs. a brand new one. And most likely, all the projects the Tribune article mentions were financed and set in motion 5-8 years ago. Is it fair to point the finger at them for making decisions before the economic downturn even existed?