Evidence-Based Design Demonstrates Measurable Improvements in Healthcare Facility Clinical Outcomes, Economic Performance, Productivity, and Customer Satisfaction, Among Others

CONCORD, CA - August 24, 2009 – The Center for Health Design (CHD), a nonprofit research, education and advocacy organization, and Gresham, Smith and Partners, a leading national architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm, today announced that Gresham, Smith and Partners is the nation's first firm committed to becoming an "advocate firm" for the new Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) program.   EDAC was developed as a way to educate and assess individuals on their understanding of how to base healthcare design decisions on credible research evidence and project evaluation results.  As the first advocate firm, Gresham, Smith and Partners will put a minimum of 25% of its Healthcare team through the EDAC accreditation process.

CHD has been working to improve the quality and safety of medical facilities for the past 20 years focusing on the use of evidence-based design to improve outcomes for patients and staff and impact the bottom line.  “As awareness of evidence-based design increases and the body of evidence grows, more and more people have sought to build hospitals with the guidance of those skilled in the practice. But, up until now, there was no standard definition of evidence-based design.” says Debra Levin, President and CEO of The Center, “EDAC establishes standards for the facilities, practitioners and designers.”

CHD began development of EDAC in 2005 with a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Phase I of the program, which focuses on building the accreditation program for healthcare and design professionals, has been supported by a volunteer team of more than 100 individuals with representation across industries including architects, hospital executives, strategic planners, clinicians, researchers and interior designers.  Phase 2 will focus on developing certification for building projects.

"By committing to becoming an EDAC Advocate Firm we are furthering our dedication to providing clients with a staff that understands the importance of evidenced based design and one that is focused on designing facilities that are not only innovative, but operationally and clinically efficient and effective,” stated Ken Priest, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, executive vice president of Healthcare, Gresham, Smith and Partners.  

Gresham, Smith and Partners has long been a proponent and practitioner of evidence-based design.  GS&P’s Director of Healthcare Research, Sheila Bosch, Ph.D., EDAC, LEED AP, serves as a firmwide resource to support the firm’s ability to more extensively understand and apply research evidence regarding how the physical healthcare facility environment can improve patient and staff outcomes.  Sheila assisted in the development of the EDAC program as well as with the creation of study guides for the EDAC exam.

Bosch commented, "By accrediting multi-disciplinary professionals across the US, EDAC will accelerate not only the application of credible research in design to improve patient and staff well-being, but will also advance the creation of new evidence, which is equally as important. Our healthcare designers are enthusiastic about becoming EDAC accredited."

The three study guides developed to assist applicants in preparing for the exam chronicle the evolution of the practice, trends affecting healthcare delivery systems, research methodologies and practical applications.  Study Guide 1 is available at no charge and can be ordered from the EDAC website as a printed copy or pdf download. Study Guides 2 and 3 are also available from the website in printed form. The EDAC examination consists of 110 multiple-choice questions. Candidates have two hours to complete the exam.  The examination covers five sections:  evidence-based design for healthcare; research; pre-design; design; and construction and occupancy.  To obtain copies of the Study Guides, as well as details on testing sites and exam dates, visit www.healthdesign.org/edac. 

About The Center for Health Design
The Center for Health Design (CHD), formed in 1993, is a nonprofit research and advocacy organization of forward-thinking healthcare, elder care, design and construction professionals and product manufacturers who are leading the quest to improve the quality of healthcare facilities and create new environments for healthy aging. Its voluntary board of directors guides the work of paid staff that manages and directs the organization’s research, education, outreach and advocacy efforts. For more information, visit http://www.healthdesign.org/

About GS&P
Gresham, Smith and Partners provides design and consulting solutions for the built environment that contribute to the success of national and international clients.  For more than 40 years, GS&P has focused on enhancing quality of life and sustainability within communities.  GS&P consists of industry-leading professionals practicing architecture and engineering design as well as scientists and highly specialized planning and strategic consultants in Aviation, Corporate and Urban Design, Environmental Compliance, Healthcare, Industrial, Land Planning, Transportation and Water Services.  GS&P consistently ranks among the top architecture and engineering firms in the United States.  For more information regarding GS&P, visit www.gspnet.com.