|
 Tracey I. Barker; Health Facility Partners, earns Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification
Chattanooga Times Free Press, January 2, 2011
CHATTANOOGA, TN - Tracey I. Barker, President; Health Facility Partners, recently earned an evidence-based design accreditation and certification (EDAC) from The Center for Health Design. With this certification, Barker joins an elite group of professionals in the healthcare industry. She is the first person in Chattanooga, TN to receive this accreditation and certification. The accreditation tests individual knowledge and understanding of how healthcare building design decisions are made. This is based on research and critical thinking which creates an environment that improve patient and staff outcomes, as well as operational outcomes.
According to Barker, "Creating a healing environment is based on three factors, the design for the patient, the healthcare worker and finally the staff who have to maintain the physical environment. It is a delicate balancing act. Designers, who are not EDAC, often overlook the lasting affect the design has on the facility. If it cannot be maintained due to costs or requires more staffing; a lot of money has been wasted. The healing environment cannot be sustained. The principles of EDAC challenge all of us to make informed design decisions based upon the best available evidence."
The Center for Health Design says that scientific research supports the notion that the evidence-based design approach to healthcare design can improve patient outcomes. Design characteristics, such as single-rooms versus multi-bed rooms, reduced noise, improved lighting, better ventilation, better ergonomic designs, supportive workplaces, and improved layout can contribute to improved outcomes for patients, families, and staff. |
