Brandrud, Inc., working closely with parent company Herman Miller, Inc., and its Herman Miller for Healthcare division, is establishing a new category of ergonomically advanced patient room seating with chair designs that address the needs of both patients and their caregivers. Combining over 40 years of Herman Miller's clinical product experience and industry-leading ergonomic seating expertise with Brandrud's own research-based, problem-solving approach, together they've created new reference points for patient room seating comfort and performance.
The Nala and Cente patient room seating designs will be displayed in both the Brandrud 11th floor showroom and Herman Miller's third floor showroom at Chicago's Merchandise Mart during the NeoCon World's Trade Fair, June 9-11, 2008. Cente is now available to order; Nala will be orderable in the Fall of 2008.
Cente--designed with both the caregiver and patient in mind
Intensive, research-based studies influenced the direction of Cente, including those surrounding caregiver safety and retention. Considering that patient handling tasks are recognized as the primary cause for musculoskeletal disorders among the nursing workforce and 38 percent of nurses suffered occupational-related back pain severe enough to require leave from work, Brandrud recognized an opportunity to solve a problem that had not yet been addressed in the market.
Located in Auburn, Washington, the healthcare furnishings manufacturer collaborated to design Cente with parent company Herman Miller, Inc., Maharam, David Ritch and Mark Saffell of 5D Studio, and infection control consultant Debra Harris.
Herman Miller's Director of Healthcare Consulting Janet Zeigler, RN MN, notes:
"The chair's mechanical forward tilt allows the patient to be positioned for safe ingress and egress without the staff having to physically pull the patient forward in the chair. This reduces both the potential shearing of the patient's skin as well as musculo-skeletal strain on the caregiver. Increasing patient and caregiver safety were paramount objectives in this design."
Pressure management and air circulation also were important criteria for Cente. Its permeable seat and back suspension and 10-degree recline reduce spinal pressure and disperse body pressure, while the three-degree forward tilt enables a patient to easily enter and exit the chair with the use of a manual shift control mechanism.
"Several criteria influenced the final design of the chair, including comfort, increasing patient size, ease of use, and scale." said Lee Falck, co-president of Brandrud. "The result is a streamlined chair with a supportive polyester mesh fabric, the ability to support patients up to 350 pounds, and controls that make the healing process easier for the patient and the caregiver."
Adds Falck: "The shift control mechanism is the most significant component available with Cente. Its ability to lift and reposition the patient's center of gravity truly is a breakthrough for healthcare patient room seating."
Cente is available in a tilt or flex version, with or without an ottoman. The tilt version features the shift control mechanism and the flex version includes a urethane spring. Both models may be disassembled for routine cleaning and maintenance.
Its standard options include the polyester mesh seat in warm grey and a soft polyester knit back available in six color choices. Seats and backs also may be specified in a wide range of vinyl and polyurethane textiles from Maharam.
Nala--a patient-centered, high performance seating solution
Brandrud's newest high-performance patient chair closely follows the introduction of Cente. Developed through the people and resources of Herman Miller for Healthcare, Nala establishes a new reference point for patient comfort while enabling enhanced caregiver access.
Leveraging the research, technologies and engineering applied to its ergonomic task chairs, Herman Miller for Healthcare partnered with Boston-based Design Continuum to create a patient chair that provides the comfortable support and ergonomic principles and technologies first demonstrated in Herman Miller's industry-leading work chair designs.
Beth Nickels, President of Herman Miller for Healthcare, notes that Nala has been long awaited by healthcare practitioners who were asking for ergonomic innovation in patient seating. "We've had great success with Herman Miller's ergonomic task chairs, but we knew it was time to develop a health-positive seating product that dramatically improves the patient experience," she says. "Nala clearly distinguishes itself from all other traditional patient seating."
Nala's development over the past year incorporated evidence-based design principles and ongoing prototype analysis with caregivers and ergonomists. "Herman Miller's Research and Design team consulted with over 200 caregivers and hospital staff from around the country and with over 70 healthcare A&D professionals," says Tom Granzow, senior program manager with Herman Miller for Healthcare. "We actively pursued their feedback and carefully considered how we could apply it to the final design of the chair."
A patient-centered approach guided Nala's design and ergonomic features. "A patient-centered approach meant that Nala would move the way the human body moved while supporting patients in healthful ways." notes Granzow. "Our research indicates that getting a patient out of bed and into a chair is an important step in the recovery process. We want to provide a comfortable, supportive, and safe seating solution that will assist in this process."
But Nala also considers the needs of caregivers, with features that assist the caregiver in moving patients in and out of the chair, including arms that swing up and out of the way and wheels that engage to move the chair closer to the patient bed.
Nala is available with three tilt options: fixed, flex, and Harmonic tilt. The Harmonic tilt option keeps the body aligned and echoes its natural pivot points at the ankle, knee, and hip. It also maintains a gentle, consistent resistance and moves smoothly throughout the range of motion. The tilt control is located on both armrests and operable from either, making it easy for caregivers or patients to locate and use.
The seat is designed to provide patients with a place to position their feet and stabilize their bodies as they get out of the chair. The chair's soft front edge comfortably guides patients into the seat. An optional ottoman is available for additional support.
Patient safety, caregiver concerns, and hospital protocols contributed to Nala's cleanable, durable finishes and materials. Crypton, Green Crypton, vinyl, solution-dyed nylon and polyester, and polyurethane represent an array of options that may be specified for the chair.
Sustainable solutions for healing environments
Both Cente and Nala were developed according to Herman Miller's rigorous Design for the Environment protocol, emphasizing safe materials, recycled content, and ease of disassembly. Cente is PVC-free and is designed for disassembly, making extensive use of mono-materials that can be easily sorted for recycling. Nala is likewise PVC-free, is 80 percent recyclable, and is made from 29 percent recycled materials. It also is under review for MBDC Silver certification. Both chairs carry a 12-year warranty.
Nickels concluded: "Both Herman Miller and Brandrud are rooted in research-based, problem-solving design. Cente and Nala represent our dedication to resolving the issues confronted by both caregivers and patients and our determination to create a new high performance category and reference point in patient room seating. By supporting both patients and caregivers in powerful and unique ways, we can make a positive impact in the recovery process."
About Brandrud
Brandrud, Inc., a Herman Miller company, manufactures an award-winning product portfolio of seating, tables, casework, and accessories for healthcare, education, and corporate environments. Founded in 1955, the company addresses the unique needs of its customers through meticulous craftsmanship and intelligent design. Based in Auburn, Washington, Brandrud is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herman Miller, Inc., a company cited by FORTUNE magazine as both the "Most Admired" company in its industry and among the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America. Herman Miller trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR.
About Herman Miller for Healthcare
Herman Miller for Healthcare delivers thoughtful applications to healthcare environments for the well-being and comfort of staff, patients, and their families. Its network of nurse consultants, clinical designers, and sales professionals provides research-based, problem-solving solutions to improve working and healing. Herman Miller for Healthcare is a charter member of the Health Facility Institute, a sustaining member of the Coalition for Health Environments Research, and a Research Partner with the Center for Health Design. Herman Miller for Healthcare is a division of Herman Miller, Inc.
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