Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.
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BY ROSALYN CAMA Successful interior design installations respond to the industries they serve. In healthcare, the most important responsi- bility of an interior designer is to create environments that facilitate the deliv- ery of quality care. In this complex and evolving fi eld, it is crucial to keep up with policy and operational trends and anticipate how interior design inter- ventions most impact performance. Many practitioners in healthcare design now use an evidence-based ap- proach to initiating design solutions. The Center for Health Design defi nes Evidence-Based Design as the process of basing decisions about the built environ- ment on credible research to achieve the best possible outcomes. In this process, scientifi c evidence is gathered to help the many stakeholders make informed design interventions, such as the speci- fi cation of an appropriate textile. Because of the rapid changes in this fi eld, baseline knowledge about how de- sign impacts care delivery can be a moving target. Therefore, it is imperative to be familiar with this design methodology and learn to use it in the complex decision- making process. Certifi cation in this meth- odology is known as EDAC and can be at- tained through study, practice and testing. Let's look closer at the reasoning behind this adoption of an evidence-based lens. How can textiles of er a safer environment for care? When one thinks of a safe building, the fi rst thought is often toward fi re safety. Of course, all textiles must comply with the governing fi re and life safety code requirements. In healthcare, though, safety most often refers to preventing the spread of contact infections. Since textiles cover many of the surfaces that patients, their families and caregivers touch, careful selection helps reduce the spread of infectious pathogens. When specifying textiles, designers must fi rst consider whether to use a woven or non-woven material. Traditionally, healthcare designers have mostly specifi ed non-woven textiles such as vinyl for its ease of maintenance. Many manufactur- ers now of er a more sustainable PVC-free option. When woven textiles are used, Examining fabric and textile trends in healthcare EVIDENCE-BASED UNDER THE LENS 46 Medical Construction & Design | M AY/ J U N E 2015 | MCDM AG.COM