Healthcare Design - February 2019 - 17

Healthcare Design: What did clients express to you
concerning their needs in the clinic/outpatient
setting that inspired a new response to the exam
chair/table?
Cesar Fernandes: Clients were looking for the
multifunction performance of an exam table or
exam chair but without the clinical aesthetic that
was offered with existing solutions. For the patient, comfort was essential considering the opportunities for extended periods of sit or rest. For the caregiver, the chair had to support safe and easy patient handling and positioning. [Clients were seeking a way to provide] a better
patient experience and offer the above points in a relatively small caregiving space.

nent serviceability. In making sure Ascend works well with other healthcare
products, such as over-bed tables and patient lifts, it was designed with generous
clearance below the unit, challenging the
engineers to make the most out of some
very tight spatial constraints. We specifically designed Ascend to be able to offer
standard options that are available on our
other recliners used in healthcare so that
facilities can select optional features specific to their needs.

Describe your design process.
We were able to leverage our extensive experience in already having developed a range
of recliner solutions for the healthcare market. Prototypes were evaluated by industry focus groups that included a variety of disciplines and experiences to support and
validate the design direction. ADA best-practice guidelines for exam tables and exam
chairs were factored into the design, and our engineers worked closely with suppliers
in developing unique mechanical solutions to support the chair's multifunctionality.

What needs did you hear from customers regarding patient experience, specifically, and how does Ascend answer
those?
Comfort was high on satisfying patient
experience needs, so finding the right
balance of ergonomics and cushioning
that would work in both seated and exam
modes was a key focus. Auxiliary options
like power units in the arms to allow patients to charge/use personal electronic
devices further support the overall experience. Customers continue to seek functional products that don't have a clinical
look and feel, so Ascend was designed with
a beautiful aesthetic along with comfort
for long-term sitting.

The Ascend recliner allows a variety of caregiving and treatment functions to
take place in the same space rather than requiring the transfer of patients.
Why was that so important to achieve?
Ascend reduces the risk for patient falls and caregiver injury from assisting patient
transfers, by minimizing the need to move patients to alternate areas within the
room or facility. There can be times that the condition of the patient might limit the
ability for movement.
What needs do you see this answering in urgent care and emergency department
environments, as well?
Ascend's versatility adapts well to smaller urgent care centers and can contribute in
supporting a more comfortable patient experience. If a patient needs to be moved to
another location within the department, Ascend's portability contributes nicely to
that effort.
This recliner is highly functional, but also delivers a sleek aesthetic. How did
you approach the overall look?
In contrast to existing exam solutions, we set out to create a warm and inviting aesthetic that was more consistent with lounge furniture than clinical equipment. We
looked at tailoring details that factored patient comfort in a modern form but with
consideration for infection control and serviceability. Features like the open-profile
arm rest are functional in assisting with patient transfer or ingress/egress yet become a key design detail that helps convey the chair's overall contemporary form.
What practical challenges of use did you also have to consider in the design?
The increased functionality tested our ability to maintain our core healthcare features that address cleanability and infection control with new systems for compo-

Do you see this as part of a trend going
forward, in terms of customer demand
for solutions that answer multiple
needs in one product?
We've definitely seen the trend and
continue to develop products that offer increased flexibility to both the user,
caregiver, and facility. There's a trend in
offering care in many off-campus settings,
too, whether it's in medical office buildings, physicians practices, surgery centers,
malls, etc., that offer limited space, time,
and budgets. Being able to answer multiple needs in one product affordably is
important.

FEBRUARY 2019

Healthcare Design - February 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Healthcare Design - February 2019