{"id":58344,"date":"2023-02-15T13:37:30","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T18:37:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/?p=58344"},"modified":"2023-02-21T14:01:45","modified_gmt":"2023-02-21T19:01:45","slug":"healthcare-design-products-making-an-impression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/trends\/healthcare-design-products-making-an-impression\/","title":{"rendered":"Healthcare Design Products Making An Impression"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Before the expo hall doors open to attendees at the annual <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hcdexpo.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Healthcare Design Conference + Expo<\/a>, a judging panel of healthcare interior designers and facilities executives hits the show floor to evaluate entries in the <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/events\/nightingale-awards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Nightingale Awards<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Their mission is to determine which products stand out for contributions to the healthcare built environment through product design and innovation that contributes to healing.<\/p>\n<p>Through visits with exhibitor booths prior to the show opening, they\u2019re able to examine\/judge the actual products and ask questions of the manufacturers. The outcome of their work\u2014the 2022 winners\u2014are featured in a special section in <em>Healthcare Design<\/em>\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nxtbook.com\/emerald\/healthcaredesign\/20230102\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">January\/February 2023 issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Healthcare design product insight<\/h2>\n<p>And while the competition identifies some of the leading products for the healthcare design industry today, the process also provides an opportunity for the judges to take the pulse of the market.<\/p>\n<p><em>Healthcare Design<\/em> recently held a roundtable discussion with some of the 2022 judges to gather input on what stood out during the Nightingale Awards judging at the HCD Conference last October, where they see room for improvement, and what product needs and challenges are on their radars.<\/p>\n<p>The <em>Healthcare Design<\/em> roundtable was moderated by Executive Editor Anne DiNardo and included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Shannon Bambery, senior associate, senior medical planner, <a href=\"https:\/\/aecom.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AECOM<\/a> (Minneapolis)<\/li>\n<li>Diana Davis, managing director and healthcare practice leader at <a href=\"https:\/\/perkinswill.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Perkins&amp;Will<\/a> (Houston)<\/li>\n<li>Julie Dumser, RN, senior manager, health consulting, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ey.com\/en_us\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EY<\/a> (Indianapolis)<\/li>\n<li>Mary Frazier, managing principal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ewingcole.com\/design\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">EwingCole<\/a> (New York)<\/li>\n<li>Andrea Hsu, associate principal, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ennead.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ennead Architect<\/a>s (New York)<\/li>\n<li>Kaycee Shiskowsky, manager of clinical planning and design, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UCHealth<\/a> (Aurora, Colo.)<\/li>\n<li>Anthony Treu, healthcare practice leader, Skidmore, Ownings &amp; Merrill (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.som.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SOM<\/a>; New York).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Supporting healthcare staff satisfaction<\/h2>\n<p>While staff satisfaction has been considered in healthcare design in the past, the last few years have pushed it even further to the forefront as more healthcare organizations are taking a harder look at how to improve the employee experience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think we\u2019re all aware of the incredible stress that healthcare providers are under, with staff shortages and the trauma that healthcare workers had to experience being on the front lines [of the pandemic],\u201d Davis says.<\/p>\n<p>With that in mind, this year\u2019s judges say they were particularly impressed by Nightingale submissions that supported staff, both within clinical environments as well as back-of-house spaces. \u201cAny product that can enhance the workplace while creating new economic and operational efficiencies is appreciated,\u201d says Treu. <em>(Editor\u2019s note: Treu answered questions for the roundtable discussion via email.)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>In fact, the Best of Competition winner is designed to improve one space that\u2019s often overlooked or downsized in some facilities: staff locker rooms.<\/p>\n<p>The winner, <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/trends\/saving-space-in-healthcare-facilities\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Zippsafe\u2019s ZippSpace Pro<\/a>, offers a smart soft locker system that accommodates employees\u2019 different storage needs (such as separate compartments to store clothing and shoes) while requiring less square footage\u2014making it easier for facilities to provide these important amenity spaces. (For more on the Best of Competition winner, see <em>Healthcare Design<\/em>\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nxtbook.com\/emerald\/healthcaredesign\/20230102\/index.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">January\/February 2023 issue<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<h2>Products that support efficiency and flexibility<\/h2>\n<p>EwingCole\u2019s Frazier says a number of products also addressed the topic of space efficiency. \u201cThere seems to be an interesting realization that space equals money and how can the design team use this space more efficiently?\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/trends\/winner-slideshow-2022-nightingale-awards\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gold Award winner in the Technology Integrated Solutions category<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/trends\/winner-slideshow-2022-nightingale-awards\/#slide-15\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ergotron\u2019s CareFit Combo System<\/a>, is a wall-mounted computer station that has room for accessories such as a mouse, keyboard, scanners, and printers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe cost of construction continues to escalate,\u201d she says. \u201cWe\u2019re getting to the point where if the cost of construction is going to be so expensive, then projects are going to stop. It\u2019s a big challenge for a lot of these systems \u2026 so how can the design team be efficient within the space that we have?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The panelists say they also appreciated products that flex to different uses as needs evolve, including the <a href=\"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/trends\/winner-slideshow-2022-nightingale-awards\/#slide-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sorta stool by Carolina, an OFS company<\/a>, which features a seat and movable arm that can serve different functions, such as a backrest or work surface.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf there\u2019s not a patient in the room, it gives the provider or nurse the ability to turn their attention to documentation,\u201d says Dumser. \u201cBut if there\u2019s a patient in the room, and the clinician has a desk laptop, this chair enables them to sit\u00a0 at any angle and still face the patient, which we know from surveys is important.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Sustainable products for healthcare<\/h2>\n<p>Another priority among healthcare organizations is sustainability. As such, many clients are looking for products that support their goals, Bambery says. \u201cIt\u2019s just the expectation now,\u201d he says. For the 2022 Nightingale Awards, three products were recognized with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nxtbook.com\/emerald\/healthcaredesign\/20230102\/index.php#\/p\/26\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sustainability Awards<\/a>, a first in the competition\u2019s history.<\/p>\n<p>During the roundtable discussion, judges noted the flooring category as one area that showed advancement, with several companies featuring products that didn\u2019t require glue for installation. Eliminating glue can reduce the associated smells and chemicals in the healthcare setting and allow for a quicker installation timeframe, which can save money and reduce interruption of care, Dumser says.<\/p>\n<p>Many companies were also eager to share if their products were made or assembled in the United States, which can support an organization\u2019s sustainability goals by focusing on local materials that help reduce a project\u2019s carbon footprint, Dumser says.<\/p>\n<p>Still, roundtable panelists say they\u2019d like to see companies push further, including considerations for materials and chemical composition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo many groups, when we would ask [about sustainability], would say, \u2018Well, it\u2019s durable. We\u2019re keeping it out of the landfill longer,\u2019 instead of having a more aggressive message around not sourcing Red List materials,\u201d Davis says, referencing <a href=\"https:\/\/living-future.org\/red-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Living Building Challenge\u2019s<\/a> program that identifies building materials, chemicals, and elements known to pose serious risks to human health and the environment.<\/p>\n<h2>Future product needs in healthcare design<\/h2>\n<p>Looking to the coming years and how manufacturers and supplies can help support healthcare projects, the roundtable panelists noted the need for more products serving the behavioral health population.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s so forefront for all of us as designers and so much of what we do is regarding how to handle that population,\u201d Dumser says.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re also looking for product solutions to help address rising incidents of violence in healthcare settings. Hsu says it would be nice to have transitional furniture pieces that would have more safety features than traditional healthcare furnishings (e.g., weighted seating) even if they weren\u2019t built exactly to behavioral health standards.<\/p>\n<p>Infection control is another issue the panel says they expect to stay top of mind, expressing the desire for more flexible solutions for personal protective equipment (PPE) storage that are less utilitarian.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have PPE stations in every public lounge or waiting area \u2026 and they\u2019re usually very unattractive,\u201d Hsu says, noting that a modular unit that could store a variety of products including gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, and gowns depending on need, would be a welcome sight.<\/p>\n<p>They also see more opportunity to improve often stark-white clinical environments, such as emergency department exam or procedure rooms. For example, Shiskowsky of UCHealth says she\u2019d like to see more wall panels that can incorporate scenery or images and be wiped clean for clinical environments.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are great options to make clinical areas look not so intimidating to patients. We just need to expand that,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n<h2>Addressing supply chain and product delay challenges<\/h2>\n<p>Beyond specific product needs, the roundtable participants expect to keep adapting to challenges related to supply chain and product delays. Frazier says her projects are adjusting by placing product orders a lot sooner than typical.<\/p>\n<p>Longer lead times also mean that some projects are less willing to make changes, Shiskowsky adds. \u201cWe actually stay on scheduled because they don\u2019t change,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n<p>The panelists also say they\u2019re waiting to see how supply issues impact standardization of products as well as hospital design. At UCHealth, Shiskowsky says the healthcare organization has already started opening up its standards on certain items, such as couches or other furnishings, to contract with other vendors instead of using only one.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe know which ones have comparable items to what we typically use so we\u2019re opening up our options just to have a back-up plan,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen we use up all of their supply on a project, then the next project might have to use a completely different vendor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With recent shortages of supplies, Hsu says she\u2019s seen increased lead times like never before. Additionally, she expects systems to re-evaluate their furniture standards to consider not only how well a product functions in a space but also how easily a product can be serviced or replaced.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe look to manufacturers with a proven track record of quality product and being able to repair or replace within a reasonable timeframe,\u201d she says. \u201cAll that plays into how we\u2019re evaluating for standards now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>Anne DiNardo is executive editor of <\/em>Healthcare Design<em>. She can be reached at <a href=\"mailto:anne.dinardo@emeraldx.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">anne.dinardo@emeraldx.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judges from the 2022 Nightingale Awards talk about new healthcare design products getting their attention and how manufacturers and suppliers can help address evolving client needs as well as ongoing supply chain challenges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2812,"featured_media":58466,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[530],"tags":[],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Healthcare Design Products Making An Impression","url":"http:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/trends\/healthcare-design-products-making-an-impression\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"http:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/trends\/healthcare-design-products-making-an-impression\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ProductTrendRpt_image-150x92.jpg","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/ProductTrendRpt_image.jpg"},"articleSection":"Trends","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Anne DiNardo"}],"creator":["Anne DiNardo"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"HCD Magazine","logo":""},"keywords":[],"dateCreated":"2023-02-15T18:37:30Z","datePublished":"2023-02-15T18:37:30Z","dateModified":"2023-02-21T19:01:45Z"},"rendered":"<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"headline\":\"Healthcare Design Products Making An Impression\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\\\/trends\\\/healthcare-design-products-making-an-impression\\\/\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\\\/trends\\\/healthcare-design-products-making-an-impression\\\/\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/ProductTrendRpt_image-150x92.jpg\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/ProductTrendRpt_image.jpg\"},\"articleSection\":\"Trends\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Anne DiNardo\"}],\"creator\":[\"Anne DiNardo\"],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"HCD Magazine\",\"logo\":\"\"},\"keywords\":[],\"dateCreated\":\"2023-02-15T18:37:30Z\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-15T18:37:30Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-02-21T19:01:45Z\"}<\/script>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/p.js"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58344"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2812"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58344"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58344\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":58468,"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58344\/revisions\/58468"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/healthcaredesignmagazine.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}