Healthcare Design - January/February 2021 - 22

seeing them. " We put acrylic up in a couple key locations, just because the
customers felt safer coming back to the environment-not because it was
preventing [COVID-19], " she said. Understanding that dynamic and its
enduring nature will be critical to developing future products, too. " What
COVID has done is caused us to go forward and think about what's next.
Even when we're done with this, emotionally, we're not done, " Wolfe said.
And, so, just as payment models shifted interest in infection control
initiatives, Schwieterman said consumer interest will now bring that
value proposition to a whole new level. " In my opinion, [infection control]
changed from a stick, where the industry was kind of forced to go there
from a payment model, to a carrot, where now every patient is fully aware
of the infection risk that they encounter and are asking for this, as well.
It's blossomed into a full-blown critical need at the end-user site, " he said.
THE LONG TERM

Anticipating what's to come in the wake of COVID-19, Schwieterman said
the pandemic stands to completely change the infection control landscape,
beginning with expanding the range of buyers-especially as " there's a
much deeper risk pool when it comes to pathogens beyond COVID-19, " he
said. " I think what this has identified is an unmet need. " And that critical
need isn't just being felt in the healthcare environment. For example, Alan
said Inpro is receiving calls from hospitality companies exploring infection
protection options. " There's a lot that's going to change in different market
segments combatting the same issue, " he said.
For healthcare, specifically, what product investments will be made going forward isn't yet certain,
but some solutions are already emerging to support
prevention initiatives. Schramm at E4H is exploring
the integration of handwashing sinks outside of clinical spaces, building them into waiting rooms where
the station is potentially plumbed in to accommodate
a full coffee kiosk. " How can we give more opportunities to make users of healthcare systems feel safer? "
she said. Similarly, Wilcynski said she recently designed an ambulatory
surgery center with a handwashing sink placed adjacent to the main concierge desk, allowing staff to request patients to wash their hands before
being given an iPad at registration. " You make it an experience; you make it
like masks today, just something that's more acceptable. You can do that-
that's why design is powerful. It changes the way people move through
spaces, " she said.
And while new product solutions will likely be developed, existing
ones are also being questioned. " We're not continuing to design around
COVID-19, but we're continuing to design around what is a smart design, "
Boldt said of how the pandemic is influencing Advocate Aurora Health's two
in-progress hospital projects. For example, in addition to cubicle curtains,
the system is re-evaluating other high-touch surfaces that require cleaning
such as tables in the family zones of patient rooms. " We're asking questions
about every item in the patient room, " Boldt said. The same approach

While new product
solutions will likely
be developed, existing
ones are also being
questioned.

J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1

is happening on the manufacturer side, too.
" This moment has allowed us to stop and pause
and ask why, " McBride said. " Why do we do
this? Is that necessary? Is there another way
to go about this so that we're really coming up
with solutions that support modern delivery
of care and the current environment and going
forward? "
However, for vendors, part of answering that
charge in a meaningful way is providing evidence that cuts through the infection control
noise that COVID-19 has stirred up. " Claiming something isn't good enough anymore, "
Schwieterman said. " We're doing a lot of misinformation management right now as manufacturers. The only way to filter between the noise
is a peer-reviewed, high-quality study to prove
something, " he said. Alan agreed, but added that
true evidence-based design-products that have
been specified, used, and proven in the field-is
necessary but difficult to achieve, as few organizations are able to dedicate time to the pursuit.
" You have to be able to control an environment
and start weeding out variables to determine
what works and what doesn't, " he said. And
as new solutions are introduced, participants
urged the industry to be careful in specification
and trusting manufacturer claims. " I like to say,
'prove it to me,' " Schramm said.
Even as COVID -19 persists, the infection
control playing field is likely forever changed-
especially as attention has been placed not only
on this pathogen but on the arguably more dangerous and transmissible ones to come and the
ways that product solutions play a role in prevention. And as collaboration between industry
members emerges as a key to success, the group
stressed the importance of continuing the conversation, asking questions, and potentially
even developing a new solution-together.
" Manufacturers are willing to have those calls,
maybe now more than ever. You learn more,
and something much better comes out of it, "
Barkan said. 
Jennifer Kovacs Silvis is editor-in-chief of Healthcare
Design. She can be reached at J E N N I F E R .
S I LV I S @ E M E R A L D X . C O M .

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Healthcare Design - January/February 2021

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