The Best of NeoCon® 2008 Competition
Yields Seven Awards for Healthcare Products
The Best of NeoCon® 2008 Competition of contract furnishing products featured four healthcare product categories: Healthcare Furniture with 11 entries; Healthcare Fabrics with 2 entries; Healthcare: Seating with 9 entries; and Healthcare: Textiles with 7 entries.
There were seven gold and silver award-winners (featured below) among the healthcare entrants.
The competition is held during NeoCon® at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago in June. It is sponsored by Contract magazine, Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc., The International Interior Design Association (IIDA), The International Facility Management Association (IFMA), and McMorrow Report.com.
[ page top ]
In the Healthcare Furniture Category, the Gold Award went to Nurture by Steelcase for Sonata casegoods which enhance cancer infusion treatment by combining a personal environment with an integrated technology solution. Sonata supports patient and family needs while improving workflow and interactions.
Sonata applications provide privacy without isolation and personal comfort through the use of materials and thoughtful function. The application solutions address a vast mix of needs including: personal storage, entertainment, privacy, guest seating, basic waiting activities and care provider work support.
Sonata features a number of individual modules:
- A nurse server has drawers for supply storage, pull out selves for work and med prep support, and a work surface ready to accommodate technology;
- An island that integrates electrical and data utilities, it also hides the chemo waste container (making a huge difference in enhancing the environment) and provides elegant open shelving for the patient;
- A media unit can accommodate a TV monitor and DVD player, it also has a functional work surface top and an open shelf below;
- The bench provides integrated guest seating and storage underneath the cushion which easily lifts up with spring hinges;
- A personal open wardrobe provides coat and sweater storage integrated into the patient’s personal environment;
- The common base anchors the product to the floor so that in can be truly freestanding and flexible. The base is also design to be wrapped with base molding so that it is sealed to the floor to allow for thorough mopping and cleaning in the area (critical in treatment areas);
- New special modules can easily be designed to fit on the common base system to accommodate the unique needs of individual treatment centers.
Heights of the modules were designed specific to their function—the nurse server separates itself with a stand-up height of 39” with sit down pull out shelves at 29”, the island top height is at 36” service counter height while the inner shelve is 30” height for the convenience of reaching it from the patients chair, the wardrobe unit is 60” tall to accommodate coats, the media unit top is 36” creating a TV cabinet at a comfortable viewing height from the reclining patient chair, and the bench is at an appropriate sitting height of 18”. www.nurturebysteelcase.com
[ page top ]
The Silver Award in Healthcare Furniture went to Images of America for the Connect Chair. The Connect chair, with its smooth and safe motorized movement can be reclined to any position desired, including a flat position. With the touch of a button, the chair can be safely raised all the way to a 32-inch height, facilitating the transferring of the patient to and from the bed, reducing the risk of injury for both patient and staff.
By improving the well being and the moral of hospital staff, reducing the risk of injuries for patient and staff, the Connect chair has a profound affect on the quality of care.
Further more, the Connect chair's versatility to function as an exam table gives hospitals more options for performing diagnostic procedures and delivering care in ambulatory care and emergency departments and other out patient settings.
The Connect chair promotes a more patient centered delivery of care. In Park Nicolett new Cancer Center, for example, physicians, lab technicians, oncology nurses go to the patient room to perform their tasks, instead of having the patients walk around to various departments.
The durability and reliability of the Connect chair comes from the quality and durability of each of its components. The motors that supply the lift provide a force of 2600 pounds, as to eliminate the risk of failure from overexertion. All mechanical components are made of 1/2” and ¼” thick steel. The cushions are made from extremely resilient, closed cell polyurethane foam, with 30,000 cycle compression test. All components are made with engineered wood composites and steel reinforcements, and the connecting frame is made of heavy gauge carbon steel. www.ioa-hcf.com
[ page top ]
Cabot Wrenn’s Open Arms won the Gold Award for Healthcare Seating. Open Arms is a treatment chair most notable for its swing out arms providing easy access to patients and easy cleanability. Open Arms features a number of available options including slip covers that can be removed to clean or recover, full Trendelenburg positioning, IV pole with bracket, stainless steel push handle, snap-on footrest cover, flip tray and foley clips. In addition, swing out arms allow care givers easier access to patients and allow for equipment to be pushed right up next to patients without the arms being in the way.
Open Arms consists of all steel construction which has a level of durability greater than wood or other foundations. Slip covers can be easily removed and cleaned or replaced. Swing out arms allow open access to cleaning so that care givers do not have to reach down in between the seats and risk exposing their hands to harmful surprises. www.cabotwrenn.com
[ page top ]
Herman Miller, Inc. won the Silver Award for Nala in Healthcare Seating. This new patient room chair leverages research and proven knowledge of seating technology and healthcare needs. Its design and ergonomic features were created to focus on improving the patient and caregiver experience. The chair's features improve functionality for patients and caregivers. A unique suspension and kinematics motion give patients long-term comfort and support. Simplified operation and intuitive controls assist the caregiver in patient transfer. Cleanable and durable design and materials meet hospital protocols.
The chair offers three tilt options: fixed, flex, and synchronized recline. Other options include arms that can rotate, wheels, an ottoman, and an adjustable headrest pillow. Healthcare-appropriate upholstery options include a variety of textiles, FR, and water barrier.
The chair is being tested to support a 350-pound user, higher than most non-bariatric seating products, and will meet or exceed BIFMA standards. It is designed for thorough and easy cleaning. It is covered under Herman Miller’s standard 12-year, 24/7 warranty, far exceeding typical patient seating warranties. www.hermanmiller.com
[ page top ]
There was a Silver Award in Healthcare Fabrics for Printed PVC-Free Upholstery by cf stinson, inc., a collection of three designs and 24 colors representing an innovative breakthrough in PVC-free upholstery. This collection brings the environment, high-performance, and design into balance. Responding to the market need to remove PVC from the healthcare environment, this designer-friendly PVC-free collection is produced using environmentally preferable materials yet exceeds the performance characteristics of conventional vinyls and other fabrics targeted toward healthcare.
This new collection is soft to the touch yet is extremely durable exceeding 400,000 double rubs in industry standard Wyzenbeek abrasion testing. Inherently providing moisture barrier performance, all 3 designs are manufactured in the USA by an ISO 9001 company. www.cfstinson.com
[ page top ]
The Gold Award for Healthcare Textiles was earned by Architex for Rx 7000 Series Privacy Curtains. Architex continues to build upon its Rx cubicle line with the new Rx 7000 series. Ten patterns, including two designed by angela adams, have a wonderful range of pattern, texture and sophistication. The Rx 7000 series include patterns woven in both pure Trevira CS fibers and Trevira CS and a flame resistant polyester blend to create beautiful designs at a range of price points. Many of the cubicles have been designed to coincide with similarly designed upholstery patterns. While color choices are diverse, custom colors may be made at a 120-yard minimum orders.
Well-suited to withstand the demanding requirements of hospital use, the cubicle curtains are woven in Trevira CS. Trevira CS is known for its excellent color and light-fastness properties as well as being an inherently flame retardant fiber. www.architex-ljh.com
[ page top ]
Graphic Nature by Shaw Contract Group won the Silver Award for Healthcare Textiles. Graphic Nature appeals to the healthcare market through its performance attributes and clean, simple and contemporary imagery. The three broadloom and three tile patterns in the collection are designed to account for the specialized stresses of healthcare. EcoWorx carpet backing technology is lighter and stronger than traditional carpet backings. EcoWorx Performance Broadloom has an impermeable moisture barrier to prevent liquid contaminants from reaching the sub floor. Graphic Nature is designed to be a lasting fixture in a facility, so that is replaced only when a change in design is desired. This will reduce disruptions in patient care associated with installation work. EcoWorx tiles are packaged so that they are easily transported down hallways and through doorways.
Three broadloom options, Glade, Pebble and Surf, and three tile options, Forest, Prairie and Reed, feature coordinating colors and patterns, allowing for multiple placement options. Broadloom and tile patterns are designed to collaborate with each other, with tiles being installed in a monolithic, quarter-turn or in a creative pattern placement for endless inspirational designs. This pattern collaboration creates individual departmental identities and way finding options. Graphic Nature is ideal for public spaces, office environments and patient rooms, but is durable enough to handle the rolling traffic found in corridors. www.shawcontractgroup.com
[ page top ]
The Best of NeoCon jury is composed of 53 corporate, government, and institutional facilities management executives, interior designers, and architects who are responsible for selecting and buying furniture and furnishings for their specific organizations or clients. The preceding Healthcare categories were judged by the following experts:
- Ms. Cynthia Alexander, Facilities Manager, The University of Michigan, College of Literature, Science and the Arts, Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Ms. Moriah Candotti, IIDA, Interior Designer, Huntsman Architectural Group, New York
- Mr. Peter Carey, RDA, Butler Rogers Baskett Architects, P.C., New York
- Ms. Gayle DeBryun, IIDA, LEED AP, Principal, Lake Affect Design Studio, Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Ms. Doreen Fentress, Vice President of Facilities, Quality Technical Services Inc., Virginia Beach, Virginia
- Ms. Glenda Godwin, CFM, IFMA, Interior Designer/Project Manager, First Tennessee Bank Corporate Real Estate, Memphis, Tennessee
- Ms. Carole C. Hargett, CID, Project Interior Designer, Virginia Medical Center—Hampton, Hampton, Virginia
- Mr. Chris Heard, interior designer, Hendrick Inc., Atlanta
- Mr. Brian Denver Hicks, Workplace Planner, Pacific Gas & Electric/CBRE, San Francisco
- Ms. Janet Kobylka, AAHID, IIDA, Principal, RTKL, Dallas
- Ms. Karen McKenzie, Facility Planer, Aurora Health Care/Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Ms. Kimberly Williams, Managing Principal, Interiors, KlingStubbins, Philadelphia.
For more information about all the 2008 Best of NeoCon entrants and winners, please visit: www.contract-network.com
|
 |
|
