unicel architectural
Project Mission and Vision
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 that would consider the following requirements:
• The ability to quickly lock down any patient who poses a hazard
• The ability to eliminate access to any objects that could be detached or torn loose
• Furniture, utilities and openings that limit opportunities for patients to harm themselves
• Windows and doors that ensure adjustable privacy and are shatterproof
Project architects selected integrated cord-free louvers from Unicel Architectural, featuring adjustable privacy and visibility levels to ensure patient comfort, along with attack-resistant glazing and adaptable anti-ligature operators. Vision Control louvers-between-glass systems
provide a superior privacy control solution for EDs to manage behavioral health patients. They allow an adjustable view into any room or patient area. The louvers can be closed to allow privacy at night or during examinations, but easily opened to allow a nearly
unobstructed view of the patient. The ability to angle the louvers such that vision is permitted from the staff's perspective, but not the other way around, is of importance as it means that the patient will not feel observed.
The Emory ED now features state-of-the-art windows and door openings that ensure fully adjustable privacy. Vision Control integrated louvers address safety issues in three key ways:
1. Cordless operation: No cords or strings that can pose a strangulation hazard
2. Anti-ligature knobs: Smooth operating knobs that present no corners or edges that pose a hanging risk from a kneeling or sitting position, or from self-mutilation
3. High-impact glazing or polycarbonates: A glazing alternative that is impact and shatter resistant, and eliminates the risk of dangerous glass shards while maintaining the louvers in a sealed and protected hermetically sealed airspace
For More Information:
http://www.unicelarchitectural.com/en/download/literature/Unicel-Emory-Case-Study.pdf
