Ecore Shares Research on How the Built Environment Can Reduce Pain & Suffering at HCD 2016

Ecore, a company that transforms reclaimed waste into unique performance surfacing, recently shared research, focused on Patient Safety and Reducing the Risk of Injury from Falls, at the 2016 Healthcare Design Expo & Conference in Houston, TX. This ongoing research was conducted in conjunction with Johns Hopkins Health (JHH) System and The Center for Health Design, as part of a Pebble Project. This research was motivated by the need to address how the built environment can reduce pain and suffering, while eliminating the costs associated with injuries.

“To date, the topic of patient falls has garnered the attention of the healthcare community at large, and, for the first time, flooring is being considered as a possible solution to a problem that continues to impact patients, staff and providers,” said Mark Huxta, Director of Healthcare Sales for Ecore. “The research Ecore conducted is a collaborative effort, featuring a number of prominent, world-class healthcare providers with anticipated completion in 2017.”

At HCD, Teri Bennett, RN CID CHID IIDA NIHD EDAC & Lead Interior Designer in Architecture & Planning Department at JHH, reviewed the internal testing JHH conducted prior to the Pebble Project and discussed how this resulted in JHH’s participation in the project. The Pebble Project is part of The Center for Health Design, which uses an evidence-based design process in healthcare capital projects, resulting in research focused on quality of care, patient safety, staff safety, and environmental safety.

Ecore, JHH, and The Center for Health Design first began research for this Pebble Project in 2014 with flooring exploration and testing at JHH in Baltimore, Md. In 2015, additional testing sites were added, including Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.; Hardin Memorial Hospital in Elizabethtown, Ky.; and Garden Spot Village Retirement Community in New Holland, Pa. The research at these testing sites to-date has shown flooring may reduce the severity of fall injuries. Testing will continue at other locations through 2017, when this Pebble Project will conclude.

To learn more about Ecore and how our surfaces can reduce the severity of fall injuries visit: http://www.ecorecommercialflooring.com.