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.
Issue link: https://mcdmag.epubxp.com/i/853600
MCDM AG.COM | J U LY/AUGUST 2017 | Medical Construction & Design 59 The Pennsylvania Presbyterian Medical Center of the University of Pennsylvania Health System in Philadelphia is one of the premier medical centers on the East Coast. Penn Medicine's trauma program alone treats more than 2,200 patients annually who have life- threatening injuries. In an eff ort to support PPMC's commit- ment to patients, staff and multiple mis- sions of clinical care, the medical center spent three years creating a new Pavilion for Advanced Care trauma center. The diversity of involved stakehold- ers required a fl ooring product that could eff ectively deliver safety for the patients, enhanced ergonomic benefi ts for the staff , and superior acoustic properties to ensure a quiet healing environment. Project designer Colleen Harrington, IIDA, LEED AP, director of healthcare interior design with Ewing Cole, the ar- chitectural fi rm involved with this project, was tasked with specifying a product based on four primary considerations. "One central concern was noise, particularly noise generated by footfall and corridor activity," said Harrington. "Another key issue was joint relief for the staff and ergonomics." Harrington also sought a wood look aesthetic and a warm, comforting space that didn't look institutional. A fi nal design request was memory with respect to vertical deformation. "Indentation recovery from the weight of the beds was important," said Harrington. The hospital selected 5,000 square yards of Ecore Commercial Flooring's Forest rx for the patient bays, treatment areas, corridors and nurses' stations. Using Ecore's patented itstru technol- ogy, which fusion bonds a 5 millimeter Ecore recycled rubber backing to a vinyl surface, Forest rx reduces the risk of injury associated with falls. "Force reduction tests have shown that the fall impact is reduced 16.9 percent, in accordance with DIN 18032, when Forest rx is installed," said Mark Huxta, director of healthcare sales for Ecore. "Because of the rubber backing, Forest rx off ers an ergonomic solution, compared to other resilient fl oors." With regard to its acoustic benefi ts when using IIC tests (in accordance with ASTM E492 and E2179), Forest rx al- lows the most basic assemblies to exceed the strict IIC 50 building code require- ments, reducing impact sound more than 20 decibels with no ceiling below. An undergraduate research study conducted by the University of Hartford's Acoustic Program in 2014 concluded that Forest rx is as quiet as carpet. When selecting the building materials for PAC, the hospital chose high-contrast resources and pops of bright colors to help decrease patient and visitor anxiety. Color and material transitions were also utilized to distinguish between staff , patient and family zones within the ICU patient rooms. Forest rx provided a unique solution for many of the common problems experi- enced by both patients and staff at the PAC. Furthermore, it also saved time and money on fl ooring installation costs, since no separate underlayment was required. Visit ecorecommercialflooring.com/rx/ forest-rx.php to learn more. applications, case studies & best practices Flooring in advanced trauma center aims to support patients, staff Sustainable Reinforcement Products From top: An inpatient "room with a view" at the Pennsylvania Presbyterian Advanced Care Pavilion. > The hospital selected Ecore Commercial Flooring's Forest rx for the patient bays in the trauma center. FLOORING