Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the HEALTHCARE DESIGN Conference will be in Phoenix this year with a program that will deliver education, networking opportunities, inspiration and so much more. The conference department along with The Center for Health Design and our other association partners have been hard at work putting things together. If the previous year's turnout (4100 visitors) is anything to go by then it's gearing up to be a thrilling and well-attended event.

One of the many new highlights in the conference program this year is the Patient Experience Simulation Lab, created by the Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Inc. This workshop will allow participants to observe a full-scale model of an inpatient room in the role of a patient or family member in a pre-determined scenario to identify problems that affect the end-user, collect information from practicing clinicians and patients, and discuss how the obstacles can be dealt with in the design process. The Institute for Patient-Centered Design, Inc., in collaboration with The Center for Health Design will hold sessions each day of the conference to allow participants to have a say in ongoing research for new evidence-based design tools for patient room design.

Also new to the conference this year is a revised research-based educational track as well as interactive poster sessions focused on building the body of knowledge in evidence-based design (EBD). Chosen by EBD researchers, the sessions consist of findings from literature review, empirical, and theoretical research. Attendees are invited to contribute and discuss the applications of research findings. The interactive poster sessions will present a visual display of evidence-based design projects that are currently in progress or already completed, and attendees can have comprehensive dialogue with the main project stakeholders.

Additionally, in partnership with the Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design (NIHD), HEALTHCARE DESIGN Conference has added a Clinical Perspectives educational track and roundtable discussions.

Of note, each year The Center for Health Design names the winner of its Changemaker Award and presents it at HEALTHCARE DESIGN Conference. Derek Parker, FAIA, RIBA, FACHA, EDAC, internationally recognized design expert of healthcare and medical research facilities, vice chair of the Laguna Honda Hospital Foundation, director of Marin General Hospital, and senior advisor to Aditazz, is this year’s honoree and he will also be one of the keynote speakers at the conference. Other featured keynote speakers are Joe Flower, healthcare futurist, speaking faculty of the American Hospital Association and a member of the board of The Center for Health Design, and Chris Downey, AIA, architect, planner, and consultant.

There will be many more exciting events and features at the conference. As always HEALTHCARE DESIGN will be on location to bring you up-to-date reports of HEALTHCARE DESIGN Conference. Look for more articles and blogs focused on the conference as we begin the countdown.