EDAC hits 1,000-certified Evidence-Based Designers

The Center for Health Design’s Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification (EDAC) has hit a momentous milestone. Now, 1,000 industry professionals, including interior designers, architects, physicians, nurses, healthcare executives, and product manufacturers, have become EDAC certified. In 2009, there were just 100 certifications. The vision for EDAC is a world where all healthcare environments are created using an evidence-based design process.

The history

The EDAC exam has been available publicly for less than three years, but it was first developed more than eight years ago. The brainchild of Kirk Hamilton, a board member emeritus of The Center for Health Design, the idea was to create a process similar to LEED that would certify individuals by assessing their knowledge of how to apply an evidence-based design (EBD) for healthcare facilities. Hamilton also envisioned that at some point in the future, we could parlay that base of knowledge into accreditation of buildings or spaces that used an EBD process. 

Evidence-Based Design (EBD) is the process of basing decisions about the built environment on credible research to achieve the best possible outcomes. Included in this process are the following eight steps:

• Define evidence-based goals and objectives.
• Find sources for relevant evidence.
• Critically interpret relevant evidence.
• Create and innovate evidence-based design concepts.
• Develop a hypothesis.
• Collect baseline performance measures.
• Monitor implementation of design and construction.
• Measure post-occupancy performance results.

 A large and growing body of evidence attests to the fact that physical environment impacts patient stress, patient and staff safety, staff effectiveness and quality of care provided in hospitals and other healthcare settings. Basing healthcare facility planning and design decisions on this evidence to achieve the best possible patient, staff and operational outcomes is what evidence-based design is all about.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided the initial funding for the EDAC program, supplemented by the partnership and funding support of Nurture by Steelcase and the thousands of volunteer hours donated by individuals from all areas of the industry. Today, there are EDAC-certified individuals in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Brazil, Istanbul, Denmark, India, and Jordan. In addition to building a community of likeminded individuals, EDAC has served as a networking device, opening the channels of communication between the design and healthcare communities. 

“As an interior designer, the EDAC certification definitely raises the bar and shows a level of competency regarding research,” says Barbara Dellinger, MA, AAHID, IIDA, CID, EDAC, Associate Vice President at HDR Architecture Inc. “For me, the essence of EDAC is being able to interpret the results of research studies and to share that information with the various disciplines involved in the design of our projects. This includes medical planning, equipment planning, architecture, MEP, and landscape architecture, so when I have information or knowledge to share, I do now … because I have the research to back it up. In the past, before EDAC, I may not have been so bold when I felt strongly about something. Now I don’t back down. It’s amazing how it has broadened the communication between all of the disciplines.”

What’s next?

EDAC’s mission is to create a community of individuals who are knowledgeable about and committed to using evidence-based design. To this end, The Center for Health Design, www.healthdesign.org,  is expanding and developing more resources and tools to assist EDAC-certified individuals with integration of EBD into their day-to-day work. This includes tools such as the RIPPLE database and Clinic Design web site, ability to provide relevant research from a common database, as well as case studies. The Center also offers training and educational sessions.

Who Should Be EDAC-Certified?

• Architects & Designers – You have a method for developing design solutions that are rooted in research and likely to achieve a client’s goals.
• Hospital Executives – You champion innovation that’s good for the triple bottom line.
• Healthcare Providers – You support new ideas in healthcare design that align with organizational goals and likely to achieve the desired results.
• Academics/Researchers/Students – You are on top of the most significant, emerging discipline within the healthcare design profession and can help carry the teachings forward.
• Engineering & Construction Professionals – You understand the importance of research-based design decisions and can maintain the integrity of these decisions during the engineering and construction processes.
• Product Manufacturers – You use research to inform the product development process and support improved outcomes in healthcare settings.

To become EDAC-certified, join one of the many EDAC study groups that are popping up across the country or start one of your own. The Center for Health Design’s staff can support create groups in your community. If you are already EDAC certified, join the EDAC LinkedIn group. And if you have not yet thought about taking the exam, download the free EDAC Study Guide 1 from The Center for Health Design’s website