Nurture® by Steelcase wins Nightingale Award for Regard™ System at HCD12

PHOENIX, Nov. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nurture® by Steelcase has earned a fifth prestigious Nightingale Award in six years, this time for its new furniture system, Regard™, at the annual Healthcare Design 2012 Conference.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121105/CG05775 )

The competition is purposed with promoting and recognizing product design that contributes to the quality of healthcare, and focuses on functionality, quality, aesthetics, environmental sustainability and pricing.  A distinguished panel of interior designers and architects that specialize in healthcare design judge the products. The 2012 Nightingale Awards honor new evidence-based, innovative healthcare products introduced to the U.S. market since November 2011. 

Nurture's observations and evidenced-based research conclude that transitional moments are missed opportunities to improve patient satisfaction and enhance the relationship between provider and patient. Regard addresses these insights through a single solution – a functional line of modular seating, casegood elements, space division, power, tables, and even planters.  As an integrated system, the goal is to provide thoughtful applications that promote useful transitional experiences.

"Individuals have a desire to be more productive with personal devices. They also have a desire to be educated in their medical care. We're honored to be recognized for a product that addresses the moment-by-moment needs of people in common spaces," said Kyle Williams, vice president and general manager of Nurture. "This paradigm shift regarding in-between times is expected to have a positive effect on the patient experience now and in the future."

Regard makes common areas more productive in a patient's healthcare journey. It is designed for transition times that are often frustrating for patients and family members, and fail to reflect the intentions and brand promise of the healthcare provider. 

By empowering patients and their loved ones with choice within common spaces, users of Regard are enabled to experience learning, interpersonal connections, productive activity, and relaxation.  And this type of environment could impact a person's ability to absorb critical information.

"Whether through self-learning, group learning, or a patient-doctor meeting, Regard creates spaces that help people focus on what's important," Williams added. "We believe that having a better understanding and adherence to health instructions can positively affect patient satisfaction and experiences."

Another consideration for care providers is safe, functional environments that are easy to keep clean and properly arranged to promote infection control. Designed with crumb sweeps and minimal cracks and crevices, Regard prevents build up that often leads to infection. In addition, seats, which see the most abuse, can be replaced in seconds without tools.

From a functionality perspective, Regard's modular components connect to a robust, patent-pending frame system with a single tool. In addition, all components are elevated from the floor, eliminating redundant legs and structure often found in ganged seating, individual furniture components, and built-in space division (such as half height drywall elements). The system also allows for the re-configurability and replacement of components. Extreme testing considers bariatric loads in all seats of the island application. Flexible power locations, integrated tables, and casegood elements provide space and function for users seeking technology in order to be productive.

Product applications range from supporting intimacy to separating strangers without going so far as to isolate them. Island planning divides space, while forming intimate or group functional settings. A booth setting welcomes users into a microenvironment, one that is private without being closed off for users. Seating is well-ordered and addresses the needs of the growing senior and bariatric populations as well as children and those who rely on wheelchairs, adding a sense of security for more vulnerable patients.

Nurture is mindful of key environmental concerns, such as longevity, reuse, and end of life. Components are designed for ease of repair, refresh or replacement. All Regard materials can be easily separated for end of life recycling. They are SCS Indoor Advantage Air Quality and BIFMA level certified.

The Regard design language can be summed up as simple, refined and distinct. "The system creates a calming environment with clean lines, an aesthetic that represents the professionalism of the provider and thoughtfully conceived features," said Alan Rheault, director of industrial design. A complete range of fabrics, frame colors, and laminates give designers the freedom to create desired aesthetic options.

Regard meets the needs of today's transition times, but also is ready to adjust to the needs of tomorrow's common spaces. Williams added, "Regard is ready to adapt to the future healthcare journey too."

Previous Nightingale Awards

Previously, Nurture has won the Nightingale Award for the Empath™ recliner in 2011, Pocket™ mobile workstations in 2010, SYNC™ centralized and decentralized workstations in 2008, and Opus™ overbed table in 2007.

The Nightingale Awards product design competition is sponsored by CONTRACT magazine in association with The Center for Health Design and The Healthcare Design Conference.

About Nurture

Nurture® by Steelcase is a company dedicated to providing user-centered solutions in healthcare. Nurture views the healthcare environment as an integral part of the healing process and provides holistic solutions that focus not only on product, but space as a whole, delivering research-driven, evidence-based solutions to complex problems in healthcare environments. For more information on Nurture please visit www.nurture.com.

SOURCE Nurture

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