Insights & Solutions

Prodigy™ is designed and engineered to overcome the daunting challenge of creating a humanized environment without sacrificing safety, security and long-term performance.

In this podcast, Lesa discusses her research project, “Investigating the Impact of Multisensory Environments on Behavior for Veterans with Dementia.” Lesa shares, “That research project was a labor of the heart. I was fortunate at the University of Florida to be a part of an AIA sponsored research consortium called, ‘Vital By Design,’ with a focus on elder research.”

In this podcast, Lesa shares information on the Gresham Smith's new patent-pending empathic design technology. “The Empathic Design Tool” measures emotional responses of people reacting to the built environment. Lesa shares, “We have an innovation incubator within Gresham Smith we call “Studio X.” Mike Sewell, our Active Transportation Service Line Leader created The Empathic Design tool which recently won Architect Magazine’s 14th annual R&D award.” Learn more about how the “Empathic Design Tool” can measure emotional responses of people reacting in the built environment and how this is a potential game-changer in the world of empathic healthcare design research. 

This webinar explores key design strategies and best practices for creating great environments for aging in place. From principles of universal design and biophilia to the role of technology and building materials, multiple elements of successful environments will be discussed. Presenters will also address some of the hurdles in creating effective environments for aging in place, including licensing and staffing, and will examine a case study of one operator’s unique approach. Participants will walk away from this session with more tools for creating environments for aging in place.

This webinar will tell their story and participants will learn how, through a phased project approach,  the team allowed for flexibility and growth for the future.

In response to the COVID-19 global health crisis, the healthcare industry is finding ways to innovate its practice and engage with patients from a distance. Virtual care is playing a much larger role in triaging patients to promote social distancing and keep hospitals and clinics from becoming overwhelmed. In a time of rapid expansion and the need for quick deployment, some very simple design tips can help you make the most of your virtual care spaces. This webinar will explore those innovations that are being deployed for the near term and for the future.

In this second podcast, Jennifer responds to the question, “What specific design changes will we see in the hospital and healthcare setting?”  with, “I like to think about anything I don’t like as a patient because I know if I hate it, other people will hate it. This gives us an opportunity to rethink things like standing in line.”

In part one of this two part podcast, Jennifer shares her thoughts on how hospitals and healthcare systems can be better prepared for future pandemic outbreaks in the United States.Jennifer begins, “I’m pretty sure architects are going to be spending a lot of time over the next two years trying to think about how to protect both patients and staff from pandemics.” In this episode you will get insight into the brain of one of the oldest architecture firms continuing existence in North America, and learn what innovations are on the horizon for hospitals and healthcare systems.

Freihoefer, K., Lindval, S., Bayramzadeh, S., & Hanson, L. (2019). Implications of a Decentralized Postpartum Unit Design and Clinical Operations. HERD: Health Environments Research & Design Journal, in press.

While there are many healthcare design studies on the effect of decentralized design in acute care, this appears to be the first study to look at how the layout supports postpartum care. Methods included shadowing, a staff survey, HCAHPS scores, and acoustical readings. Nurses spent the majority of their shift with mom and baby patients, and a little over one third of their time charting. Despite the significant amount of time charting, in the course of 25 hours of shadowing, there was only one occasion when a nurse used a decentralized charting station. The study shows the need for transition planning – as a new decentralized environment does not mean there will automatically be new decentralized behavior.

This webinar will offer new lessons learned and insights arising out of 20 mental health projects currently in design, under construction, or recently occupied encompassing over 5,000 beds in 14 States in every part of the United States.