February 9, 2017
The Scoop
Staying in the Know
At The Center, we enjoy talking with all of you to find out what you're doing and what you need to keep on top of the challenges you're facing today. To that end, we strive to include in our newsletters our latest resources and tools, providing you with knowledge that's actionable, knowledge you can hopefully quickly incorporate into your projects, along with the latest industry news to see what others are doing.
Below are some of our most recent resources that, thanks to our partners, J+J Flooring Group and Steelcase Health, are available free to all.
Hopefully, you find all of the resources in this newsletter interesting and helpful. Be sure to share them with your team and as always, let me know what tools and resources have been helpful to you in the past, and we'll feature them in our future newsletters.
Be well,
Debra Levin, EDAC
President and CEO
Industry News Briefs
Cape Cod Facility Renovates for Aging Population
The completed expansion and renovation of Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Cape Cod (SCC), Sandwich, Mass., will help the health facility to prepare for a projected increase in demand for outpatient services in a region with a high concentration of elderly persons.
The design of the two-story, 6,230-square-foot addition and renovation of 12,800 square feet of space in the existing hospital was led by Margulies Perruzzi Architects (MPA), Boston.
As the region’s only rehab hospital, the 76,900-square-foot, 60-bed facility anticipates getting 21,000 more outpatient visits per year. Cape Cod has one of the largest concentrations of senior citizens in the country, and the number of residents 65 and older is predicted to more than double between 2015 and 2030.
Heath Facilities Management, more ...
Texas System Plans First Microhospital
Christus Southeast Texas Health System is looking to create the area’s first micro-hospital.
Christus recently acquired a 6.2 acre lot southwest of the new Christus Outpatient Center under construction to develop the hospital.
“A micro-hospital operates 24-hours a day, 7-days a week, meets all federal and sate licensing and regulatory requirements and offers a condensed number of inpatient beds for observation and short stays,” Ryan Miller, Christus Southeast Texas Health System president of ambulatory services, said. The Orange Leader, more . . .
6 Behavioral Health Design Trends*
HGA has designed behavioral health facilities across the country—including several mental health units within hospitals and numerous addiction treatment facilities—and has identified six approaches that not only help reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues but also fully address the needs of patients’ physical and mental well-being. Consideration of these trends in healthcare planning and design can positively impact costs, functional capabilities, and safety for patients and staff.
1. Quick patient assessment
While our culture generally accepts the notion that it’s necessary to go see a doctor if one isn’t feeling well physically, it isn’t as accepted for one to see a professional if not feeling well mentally. Therefore, those suffering from mental health disorders often aren’t identified or treated in an appropriate and timely manner and may end up in the hospital emergency department in a state of crisis.
Unless emergency departments have the right professionals prepared to address these specific crises and assess patients’ mental health needs, the experience in emergency may do them more harm than good. Healthcare Design, more...
*Join us for a webinar today, 11:00 AM PST/2:00 EST- "Mental and Behavioral Health Facilities: Critical Design Issues".
Has ‘Green’ Delivered on its Promise to the Healthcare Sector?
The built environment has a profound impact on our natural environment, economy, health, and productivity, according to the US Green Building Council (USGBC). In the United States alone, buildings account for:
* 65% of electricity consumption
* 36% of energy use
* 40% of greenhouse gas emissions
* 30% of raw materials use
* 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually)
* 12% of potable water consumption
When you think about these statistics, it’s no wonder that a movement toward sustainability has been underway for the past 16 years. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), first introduced in 2000, is an ecology-oriented building certification program run under the auspices of the USGBC. LEED concentrates its efforts on improving performance across five key areas of environmental and human health: energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, materials selection, sustainable site development and water savings. Building Design + Construction, more . . .
A Survey Challenges the Efficacy of Decentralized Nurses Station Design
When evidence-based design collides with conventional wisdom, the outcome will sometimes be disruptive.
Take, for example, the generally accepted advantages in patient care and observation related to decentralizing nurses’ stations in hospitals, which is becoming standard practice for healthcare clients and their AEC partners.
A recent evaluation of a renovated Missouri hospital, conducted by University of Kansas faculty members, raised questions about the impact of decentralization on patient satisfaction and the communication among nursing teams within the facility.
Building Design + Construction, more . . .
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