Blog Contribution by NIHD President Kelly Guzman, MN, RN, EDAC.
The Healthcare Design Conference + Expo (HCD) was a tremendous success by all accounts. It was lovely to see and connect with friends and partners in person, and the information shared in the sessions was timely and informative.
Annual Member Dinner.
We kicked off the weekend’s events on Friday, October 7th, with a board meeting to discuss plans for 2023 and welcome two new board members: Lynn Aguilera D.M., MSNEd, RN, EDAC, PMP as Secretary, and Elizabeth Johnson PhD, MS-CRM, RN as Board Member Education.
Then, we enjoyed a fabulous evening in the private Wine Cellar at Zinc Bistro & Bar, where many members gathered to reconnect and meet new friends before the commencement of the conference.
The member dinner is always one of my favorite activities because it provides the opportunity to make new connections at the start of the conference. During the dinner, NIHD Foundation Chair Terri Zborowsky PhD, RN, EDAC, CPXP shared information about the NIHD Foundation and its activities. We are grateful to the Foundation for sponsoring our HCD Scholarship recipients Elizabeth Johnson PhD, MS-CRM, RN and Marjorie Serrano BSN, MArch, PNP to attend HCD 2022.
Pre-Conference Workshop and Annual Reception.
Saturday was a jam-packed day with both our pre-conference workshop and annual reception. With over 60 participants, our pre-conference workshop, ROI of the Clinical Voice in Healthcare Design: How to Get it and What It's Worth in the Quest for Better Designs, challenged us to rethink the participants needed during the design process. NIHD Board member Kate Newcomb-DeSanto MSN, RN, MSW, EDAC delivered the keynote and set the stage for participants to share how best to leverage the clinical voice from the beginning of the design process. We are so thankful for our rock star panel of Sarah Francis MSN, RN, NEA-BC, EDAC, Juliet L. Rogers, PhD, MPH, and Cathy Massey RN, BSN, MSN, EDAC for sharing their perspectives on the value of involving clinicians in the design process.
Participants were enthusiastic, and after the panel discussion, we held an interactive session with three breakout focuses: Emergency Department, Labor & Delivery, and Interventional spaces. Each was tasked with reviewing the various stages of the design process and identifying which voices are required along the project continuum. This exercise solidified the value of having clinical stakeholders present and allowed participants to evaluate the return on investment for the clinical voice in design. Our experience at HCD inspired the development of new tools that will be available to all members, so please stay tuned! The day culminated with a celebration of our members and sponsors at our NIHD reception.
Keynote & Expo Hall.
On Sunday, the conference was officially kicked off by the keynote speaker Eric Klinenberg, author of Palaces for the People How Social Infrastructure Can Help Fight Inequality, Polarization, and the Decline of Civic Life. Eric shared his experience growing up in Chicago and living in New York, which contributed to his passion for this work. His keynote address was focused on his research on the division of Americans due to racial, religious, and cultural beliefs. He shared his perspective that the future of our society as Americans rests not only on our shared values, but also on the shared spaces in our communities. He used examples of shared spaces, such as the library, childcare centers, and parks, where critical connections and conversations take place. Although this topic seemed intimidating, Eric shared funny stories of experiments he did with his family and outings with his daughter to gain first-hand insight, which kept the keynote interesting and relatable.
I had the pleasure of attending so many great sessions, and our NIHD booth was a great connection spot for our members and sponsors. Thank you to everyone who attended HCD and to our speakers and sponsors whose support makes our work possible.
