January 11, 2018

The Scoop

A Great Start to the New Year

I start each new year reflecting on the past, getting excited about the future, while being filled with gratitude and genuine love for this amazing journey that I share with you. This year, 2018, is very special for The Center as we are marking our 25th anniversary. I am grateful for and proud of our accomplishments that started with developing the concept of evidence-based design into what is now a global community of forward thinkers. We began in 1993 by publishing "Design Evaluations of Six Primary Care Facilities", a research report which examined the implications that the changing primary care system had on the facility design. A great deal has been accomplished since that time, including the launch and publication of Healthcare Design magazine and HERD Journal along with the launch of the Pebble Project, the Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) program and the Knowledge Repository, an extensive, user-friendly, online and free library of healthcare design resources. We also helped create the conferences that highlight the latest industry research, Healthcare Design Expo & Conference and Environments for Aging Expo & Conference.

The key to all these publications, conferences, programs and tools is research. It's an essential and crucial element in the work our industry does, and it is best utilized when details and outcomes are shared. Research projects are often an expansion of past work to further our knowledge on a topic, or can explore something entirely new and shed light on issues we didn't even know existed, raising important questions that need to be addressed.

For all of the progress we've made through research and collaboration, none of it could have been accomplished without YOU. And while some of our members have been with us from the start, others are new to join our community. We are thankful for each and every one of you. As we enter our 25th year, our pledge to you is to continue to offer you the needed tools, resources and insights to ensure all healthcare environments are healthy, safe and produce the best possible outcomes for patients, families, and staff.

Speaking of best possible outcomes, today's webinar, Safety Risk Assessment 2.0 and a webinar on January 25 featuring Mardelle Shepley, (details to come) will kick off this year with critical tools and fresh insights.

Watch for announcements of upcoming celebration activities.  Celebrating the past, embracing the present and crafting the future, here’s to creating great things together in the coming year. 

Wishing you all the best in 2018,

Debra Levin, EDAC
President and CEO

Industry News Briefs

Key Design Practices Can Improve Patient Care

With increasing emphasis on quality, safety and profitability in today’s healthcare marketplace, industry leaders are intensifying their focus on design that supports effective operations. The objectives are to maximize staff efficiency by right-sizing and “right-fitting” patient care units with layouts that are efficient for nurses and the care team, to provide safe environments for patients and to foster collaborative team environments.

Design solutions for new and renovated medical-surgical units may be unique for each facility due to site and existing structure and footprints; however, they should enable efficient patient care by incorporating these key considerations:
Medical Construction & Design, more. . . 

Members of the EYP Health team recently joined The Center for Health Design to celebrate the inaugural Evidence-Based Design, Touchstone Awards at the Healthcare Design Expo & Conference.

The award recognizes the use of an Evidence-Based Design process in the pursuit of increasing value, improving outcomes and engaging stakeholders. Submissions were judged based upon their achievement across three touchstones of the EBD process:

• Collaborate: Submissions must demonstrate interdisciplinary team and stakeholder education, engagement and development.
• Evaluate: Submissions must demonstrate the extent to which research was found, evaluated and applied to link design to outcomes and measurement of results.
• Share: Submissions must demonstrate how the EBD process was applied and how the knowledge gained was disseminated, captured and has the potential for application to future projects.

Medical Construction & Design, more . . .

2018 Predictions for Healthcare Facility Design

“From Emergency Departments to micro-hospitals, to the amenities in and locations of hospitals, the year ahead will see continued changes in how healthcare providers are designing and equipping their facilities to meet both patient and market needs,” said Jason Carney, AIA, E4H Partner. “Add in the pressures of rapidly evolving regulations and payment models, and healthcare design has never been more dynamic than it is now.”

Following are seven top design trends in healthcare for 2018, as envisioned by E4H partners from across the country: 
NB Herald, more . . .

In Memorium

The Center for Health Design's Environmental Standards Council is sad to announce the recent passing of one of its volunteer members, Phil Cerniglia.  Phil was a Partner and the Director of Healthcare at Lothrop Associates in White Plains, New York.  His enthusiasm for healthcare design and his willingness to share his 30+ years of experience speaks volumes for his passion to optimize the healthcare delivery experience.  Also notable to his colleagues on the Council was the personal warmth and joyful spirit he constantly demonstrated.  Consistent with the enduring quality of Phil’s physical design accomplishments, the personal impact he had on his fellow Council members will continue to guide their ongoing their work to further the mission of The Center.

In addition to colleagues across New York and the country, Phil leaves behind his wife Gloria, sons Jordan and Brian, and his friends at The Center.