Insights & Solutions

Emergency Departments (EDs) frequently receive patients with behavioral issues that require them to be identified and potentially isolated as quickly as possible. Often, they need to be placed in specially-designed safe rooms or areas that are optimized for security. Understanding this, Emory wanted to create a safe space in their ED for behavioral health patients.

The Syracuse VA Medical Center needed to renovate its 6th Floor B wing (Ward 6B) space for use as a new medical/surgical inpatient ward. The new ward was to have 20 bed units with 16 private patient rooms and private baths, two double patient rooms and baths, and all the necessary appurtenances for an inpatient surgical care area. Sliding doors were a primary opening/entry feature for easy and efficient access.

Unicel provided Vision Control sliding doors for Mount Sinai's renovation and upgrade of inpatient units, including intensive care spaces for cardiac patients. This included plans for 14 private rooms and a mandate to enhance both patient environments and provide more accessible and efficient nursing care. A key architectural element was to add sliding doors, because they operate easily and automatically. However, they also move incessantly, especially in ICUs where critical patients require constant care from nursing stations. Because of this, it was essential for these doors to maintain desired positioning at all times, without causing additional noise that could hinder patient recovery.  

In part 2 of this podcast,  Mary Frazier talks about new technology that is greatly assisting in the battle against COVID-19 and Hospital Acquired Infections.

Learn why patients have now become afraid to go to the hospital with empty Emergency Departments a growing concern among hospitals. How can the healthcare design professional help hospitals begin to rebuild trust and bring their patients back?

 In this webinar you will learn how two health systems are changing the way they design and build their facilities using simulation and technology along with modular and prefabricated products and components. With these changes there is a need to break down silos and improve collaboration in the project delivery process to enable this disruption to occur within the industry. Attend this webinar to gain their perspectives and how they are implementing these changes within the two organizations.   

The healthcare industry and the built environment that supports it continues to be challenged in these unprecedented times and has seen the evolution of innovative care practices, solutions, and settings. As portions of the country have begun easing shut downs and others have not, a lot has been learned in a short amount of time. Join this panel of industry leaders for a dynamic and frank discussion about what we’ve seen and where we are headed. 

In part 2 of  Rachel Gutter, President of the IWBI's interview, hear about the IWBI’s new Task Force---with more than 250 members---whose goal is to help reduce the health burden of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections in the built environment.