Creating building design standards is a good idea for any institution. For healthcare facilities, having a clearly defined set of building design standards is an important tool that can help manage many aspects of a facility as large and complex as a hospital....
Last week’s survey results: I voted for: 40.48% - John McCain 57.14% - Barack Obama 2.38% - Other Comments: -Obama is what that is and he's what a lot of people stand for. -Nader - Natural Law Party! -You wouldn't let a brain surgeon operate on you with only 2 years...
Images courtesy of Henry Domke The HEALTHCARE DESIGN conference was pulled off successfully, with a slew of sessions, roundtable discussions, exhibitor presentations, and board meetings all crammed in the four-day event in Washington, D.C., this week. I’ve only been...
After attending the HEALTHCARE DESIGN.05 conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, a small group of registered nurses was inspired to address a knowledge gap it found among nurses who are increasingly being invited to the planning table. Since then, the Nursing Institute for...
In recent years, visits to U.S. hospital emergency departments hit record highs, reaching 114 million visits in 2003 according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At the same time, the number of hospitals with emergency departments has...
Every week I come across a news article on nanotechnology advancements in either healthcare or building. For example, this company called Industrial Nanotech, Inc., is manufacturing a paint-on insulation. And what else are they callingit but "Nansulate." The...
By now I would guess that most of the plugged-in world, including the nongeek contingent, is aware of the Wikipedia concept: building an encyclopedia by accretion, with all comers invited to add bits and pieces of information about the topic at hand. The result is as...
The healthcare environment—where care is actually provided and received—has substantial effects on patient health and safety, care effectiveness, staff efficiency, and morale. The United States spends approximately 15% of its Gross National Product on healthcare, much...
While building information modeling (BIM) is a very powerful electronic tool—potentially enabling unprecedented efficiencies and savings in the design, construction, and operation of healthcare facilities—its learning curve is steep. As the design and construction...
Acute care hospitals are continually evolving their approach to adult inpatient care. They are searching for ways to best serve patients and their families while reducing operational costs. This has resulted in the rethinking of the established model of three levels...
Mattress protector The Crypton Mattress Protector provides a barrier between the mattress and the person sleeping on it. Soft, breathable, cool, and quiet, it's the only mattress protector engineered with Crypton's permanent integrated barrier that resists stains and...
In 2008, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Academy of Architecture for Health (AAH) initiated the first annual AIA/AAH National Healthcare Design Awards program. Continuing the AIA's legacy of celebrating outstanding works of contemporary architects,...
