A few years back at one of HEALTHCARE DESIGN‘s annual Editorial Advisory Board meetings, a board member (and if I could remember who, I would tell you) suggested that the magazine try to publish some “themed” issues. The idea was that by highlighting a number of projects of the same general type in a single issue of the magazine, we would be providing a comprehensive look at some of the more prevalent types of specialty facilities out there, as well as the educational value inherent in seeing the ways different design teams across the country tackle facilities meant for the same purpose.

We all decided it was a great idea, and like a great many great ideas that come up at such meetings, it sank like a stone to the bottom of a pile of papers on my desk and languished there for a good long while.

I am pleased and proud to report, however, that during preparations for our office move last fall, my meeting notes miraculously resurfaced and we now have incorporated the idea into the 2011 Editorial Calendar. This issue marks the first of four “Spotlight On…” issues planned for the year. First up: children’s hospitals.

Keep an eye out for the “Spotlight On Children’s Hospitals” logo pictured here as you flip through this issue. Much ground is covered, from the story of one children’s hospital’s comprehensive transportation plan (page 14), to the story of a research facility focused on childhood neurological diseases (page 38), and of course our cover story, Phoenix Children’s Hospital (page 52). We hope that this varied yet focused editorial content achieves our desired goal of painting a full, rich portrait of the modern children’s facility from multiple angles. I trust you, our readers, to let us know if we were successful.

This issue marks the first of four “Spotlight On…” issues planned for the year. Keep an eye out for the “Spotlight On Children’s Hospitals” logo pictured here as you flip through this issue.

Later this year, we will be taking on women’s facilities (May), cancer centers (August), and emergency departments (November). I encourage any of you reading this who have a recent project that falls under any of those umbrellas to drop me a line and send me your ideas-the more the merrier! I can’t guarantee we will be able to get you all into print, but we will definitely appreciate having a multitude of projects to choose from. HCD

CORRECTION: In the article “Designing for Lean” in the January 2011 issue of HEALTHCARE DESIGN, the Web site address for tgba|architects is printed as www.tgbaarchitects.com. However, the correct Web site address for the firm is www.tgbarchitects.com.HEALTHCARE DESIGN regrets the error.

Healthcare Design 2011 March;11(3):8