Episode 64, Donna Deckard, BSN, MPA, EDAC, Barbara Dellinger, MA, FIIDA, CHID, EDAC, and Teri Lura Bennett, BSN, RN, CHID, EDAC

"I decided I should go back to school for interior design because someone should be designing these spaces who knew what it was like to work in them. And I decided it would be me." —Teri Lura-Bennett

Step into the world of evidence-based healthcare design with host Cheryl Janis and an all-star lineup of experts: Donna Deckard, Director of the EDAC program at the Center for Health Design; Barbara Dellinger, a veteran healthcare interior designer with over 40 years of experience and Teri Lura-Bennett, a unique blend of registered nurse and acclaimed healthcare interior designer.

Our guests dive deep into the often-overlooked yet critical world of hospital flooring and surfaces, sharing eye-opening stories of trials, failures, and triumphs. Learn how a single flooring decision can impact patient safety, staff efficiency, and maintenance costs for years to come. 

Discover the power of evidence-based design as our experts reveal how meticulous research and real-world testing are revolutionizing healthcare environments. From navigating the complexities of material selection to accessing reliable, up-to-date information, this episode equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions that go beyond aesthetics. 

Whether you're a seasoned healthcare designer or new to the field, you'll gain invaluable insights to elevate your next project and create spaces that are not just beautiful, but safer and more effective.

Learn more about The Swiss Cheese Model that Teri mentions here: https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/management/swiss-cheese-model

Learn more about the EBD process of Finding and Conducting Research that Donna shares by viewing and downloading this .PDF: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QhBFnumvnfe16CwkOhkpWqM6KYikZ5MU/view?usp=sharing

Learn more about The Center for Health Design and the EDAC Certification by visiting: https://www.healthdesign.org/.

LinkedIn Contact Info for Guests:

Barbara Delinger: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-dellinger-9697b613/

Teri Lura Bennett: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teri-bennett-61306925/

Donna Deckard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donna-deckard-6b38318/

In today’s episode, Cheryl and her guests discuss the following:

• Barbara shares a riveting story about helping to save the healing gardens in a billion-dollar military hospital project. Picture a tense value engineering meeting where millions were at stake, and an architect's impassioned defense of evidence-based design saved the day! Thank you Barbara!

• Journey through time with Donna as she traces the roots of evidence-based design back to the 1970s. Learn how a groundbreaking study on hospital window views revolutionized the field and sparked a design revolution.

• Teri reveals her unique path from ICU nurse to interior designer. Her story of redesigning a coronary care unit while still a nurse manager will inspire anyone looking to make a career pivot.

• Uncover the mysteries of the "Swiss Cheese Model" as Teri explains how a series of small oversights can lead to major design failures - and how to prevent them.

• Get the inside scoop on a real-world flooring study at Johns Hopkins, where 12 different materials battled it out in a high-traffic corridor. The results might surprise you!

• Barbara and Teri dish on the drama of failing fabrics in healthcare settings. Their tale of the "Durable Coated Fabrics Task Group" reads like a design detective story, complete with millions of dollars at stake and a race against time to find a solution.

• Laugh (and cringe) at Teri’s anecdotes about well-meaning cleaning staff inadvertently causing more problems - and learn valuable lessons about the importance of whole-team education in healthcare design.

• Discover the unexpected link between evidence-based medicine and design as Donna explains how three pioneering doctors in the 70's laid the groundwork for today's healthcare environments.

• Get fired up about the power of research as the guests share how they've used evidence to defend design choices, influence product development, and create safer, more effective healing spaces.

• Walk away with a treasure trove of resources, including the Center for Health Design's knowledge repository (with over 6,000 articles!) and tips for earning your EDAC certification.

Shout Outs:

- Center for Health Design

- American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers  

- Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI)

Industry Partners:

The world is changing quickly. The Center for Health Design is committed to providing the healthcare design and senior living design industries with the latest research, best practices and innovations. The Center can help you solve today’s biggest healthcare challenges and make a difference in care, safety, medical outcomes, and the bottom line.  Find out more at healthdesign.org.

Additional support for this podcast comes from our industry partners:

• The American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers

• The Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design

Learn more about how to become a Certified Healthcare Interior Designer®  by visiting the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers at: https://aahid.org/.

Connect to a community interested in supporting clinician involvement in design and construction of the built environment by visiting The Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design at https://www.nursingihd.com/

FEATURED PRODUCT

The prevention of nosocomial infections is of paramount importance. Did you know that bathrooms and showers – particularly in shared spaces – are a veritable breeding ground for pathogen, some of which we see in the form of mold and the build-up of toxic bio films on surfaces.

Body fats and soap scums provide a rich food sauce for micro-organisms such as airborne bacteria Serratia Marcescens, which thrive in humid conditions.

We know that people with weakened immune systems are so much more vulnerable to the illnesses associated with infection and let’s face it, none of us go into the shower with an expectation that we might get sick.

So how do we keep those shower walls clean? Well let’s think big – BIG TILES.

Porcelanosa have developed XXL Hygienic Ceramic Tiles that are 5 feet long - which means just one piece fits the wall of a shower or tub surround. XTONE Porcelain slabs are 10 feet high which means a floor to ceiling surface with no joints.

Why does this matter? Well hygienic glaze will not harbor pathogen and surface impurities are easily removed to prevent build up – it is reassuring to know the evidence - INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS Test ISO 10545 - Resistance to Stains -  has determined these surfaces can be easily cleaned and the most difficult contaminants washed away, greatly reducing the need for aggressive chemicals.

Think about this…When we unload our dishwasher our ceramic tableware is sparkling clean, sanitized and fresh to use - again and again. The principle is the same with large ceramic walls - So, when planning the shower surrounds for your facilities please reach out to Porcelanosa. The designer in you will love the incredible options and your specification will deliver the longest & best lifecycle value bar none.