Academy on Architecture for Health Foundation 2015 Research Grant
The Academy on Architecture for Health Foundation (AAFH) has awarded it largest single grant to Cornell University and a team of healthcare architects led by Mardelle McCuskey Shepley, D,Arch., FAIA, FACHA, for a study of building performance for inpatient behavioral environment.
The research study will update prior literature reviews, conduct focus group interviews, develop environmental evaluation tools and conduct a major survey of psychiatric nurses to evaluate the tools. Among the final products will be the generation of design guidelines.
In addition to Professor Shepley, members of the research team will include:
Francis Pitts,FAIA,FACHA, President, Architecture+
Anne Garrity, LEED AP, Senior Associate, Shepley Bulfinch Architects
Elizabeth Spelman, AIA R.A., LEED AP, Senior Architect, Shepley Bulfinch Architects
Angela Watson, AIA, LEED AP, Principal, Shepley Bulfinch Architects
As noted in the proposal: "Approximately 60% of people with mental health disorders and 90% of those with addiction disorders are not receiving adequate care. New inpatient facilities are being designed in response to the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which mandates mental health coverage for insurance plans, but research on behavioral health (BH) environments is inadequate to support the design process."
The AAHF received it largest set of proposal applications in 2014. Each proposals went through four rounds of review, including an initial blind review of the abstracts. The review team consisted of six highly qualified researchers and practitioners in the healthcare design community led by Research Committee Chair Erin K. Peavey, Assoc. AIA, Leed. Thank you to the following for volunteering their time and talents; Upali Nanda, Ph.D.; Samira Pasha, Ph.D.; Professor David Allison; Sheila Bosch, Ph.D.; and Julie Zook, ABD.
The foundation thanks our members and donors for their support in making this year's grant a reality.
For more information please see our website or contact AAHF Research Chair, Erin K. Peavey.
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Frank Zilm FAIA, FACHA
President
Frank Zilm & Associates
Kansas City MO
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