The Center for Health Design has launched the Safety toolbox containing a library of newly-created and Center staff-curated content. Included in this toolbox are research findings, expert insights, strategies, and other useful resources connecting the built environment to better health outcomes and reduced cost of care. Because of the generous support and partnership with Grainger, The Center is happy to announce all safety materials produced for this toolbox are available and free to all until July 2019.

Safety has often been addressed differently between the design industry and healthcare owners. Designers often think of safety in the context of fire and life safety, while healthcare owners and caregivers may think of safety in the context of serious reportable events and hospital-acquired conditions. But poorly designed and operated healthcare environments can also contribute to harm associated with adverse events such as healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), medication errors, injury from patient handling, self-harm (or violence against others), security breaches, and falls.

Safety in healthcare is complex and requires a systems approach – understanding the organizational factors, the people, and the often overlooked environment. This toolbox details six risk components in healthcare settings (going beyond fire and life safety), with design considerations for the built environment that may contribute to improved safety for all who use a facility – staff, patients, visitors, and others. 

These considerations support an evidence-based design approach to target six areas of safety as required in the FGI Guidelines Safety Risk Assessment (SRA) process: Infection Control, Security, Patient Handling, Falls, Medication Safety and Behavioral Health Associated Injury.

The Center has created this toolbox to assist healthcare organizations, designers, suppliers and others involved in the planning, design, construction and operation of healthcare facilities with pertinent tools including;

• Six Deep Dive Issue Briefs 
• Ten Executive Summaries or Backgrounders for quick reference of key points
• Seven Video and Written Interviews
• Two EBD Journal Clubs
• Six Design Strategies
• Three On-Demand Webinars

​​​​"We are pleased to announce our partnership with Grainger has allowed us to create, produce and offer the Safety toolbox free to the entire industry. As we face the many challenges presented by the safety needs of patients, staff and visitors in healthcare facilities, architects, designers and manufacturers are being asked to understand and address the safety challenges faced daily by these facilities," stated Debra Levin, EDAC, President and CEO, The Center for Health Design. "This toolbox is another way for us to empower both our members and our community with research, education and resources to help facility designers, medical professionals and manufacturers understand and implement the best possible solutions to the challenges and opportunities brought about by this rapidly growing need.”

To access the complete toolbox now, click here.