"Certification enhances your credibility and your expertise in healthcare interior design. It distinguishes you from non-certified healthcare interior designers that are practicing in the healthcare design space and illustrates the amount of knowledge to deliver these types of environments." —Megan McNally on The Healthcare Interior Design 2.0 podcast

Step into the world of healthcare design certification, where interior designers develop specialized expertise to create healing environments that protect patients and improve outcomes.

In this informative episode, host Cheryl Janis sits down with Stephanie Fallon, President-Elect, and Megan McNally, President of the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID), who share insights about the path to becoming a Certified Healthcare Interior Designer (CHID).

From understanding the rigorous examination process to exploring the unique challenges of healthcare environments, Stephanie and Megan reveal why specialized certification has become increasingly critical in an industry where design directly impacts patient safety, infection control, and healing. Their combined 30+ years of experience creating award-winning healthcare spaces illuminates why certified designers are essential members of any healthcare project team.

Discover how AAHID's certification process is elevating the standard of healthcare design nationwide and creating a community of professionals dedicated to advancing evidence-based design practices. This conversation will give you a comprehensive understanding of how specialized certification is transforming healthcare environments and improving outcomes for patients and staff alike.

Learn more about the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers at: https://aahid.org/

Stephanie Fallon serves as Director of Interiors and Associate Partner at PhiloWilke Partnership, with 15 years specializing in Healthcare and Health Science Interiors.

Megan McNally is the Director of Interior Design at RYAN Companies, where she leads their National Healthcare Interior Design Practice. She was recently recognized as Healthcare Design's HCD10 in the Interior Design category.

In this enlightening conversation, Cheryl, Stephanie, and Megan explore:

• The mission and 20-year history of the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers (AAHID) and its role in certifying healthcare design professionals

• The comprehensive CHID examination process that tests designers' knowledge of critical healthcare environments, from acute care to ambulatory and residential settings

• The two distinct pathways to CHID certification, accommodating both experienced designers and those newer to the healthcare specialty

• How certified designers understand and address unique healthcare challenges related to infection control, patient safety, staff functionality, and code compliance

• The professional benefits of certification, including leadership opportunities, networking with passionate CHIDs, and volunteer positions within committees

• The important impact CHIDs have on planning healthcare environments that promote healing through access to natural light, cleanable materials, and thoughtful design

• Emerging trends in healthcare design, including design for neurodiversity, increased focus on staff retention through supportive amenities, and community integration

• How sustainability, wellness, and technology integration are shaping the future of healthcare design, from robot pathways to AI integration

• A call for healthcare systems to require certified healthcare interior designers on project teams to ensure specialized expertise

• The personal stories of meaningful projects, including a dementia-friendly heart center designed with acoustic controls, intuitive wayfinding, and supportive aids

Whether you're a healthcare professional, interior designer considering healthcare specialization, or someone interested in how design impacts healing environments, this episode offers valuable insights into the specialized world of healthcare interior design certification. Join us for an informative discussion about how certified designers are transforming healthcare spaces and improving outcomes through thoughtful, evidence-based design. Listen to the episode now!

Shout Outs

• Past Episode Mentions:

  • [30:43] "For anyone who's listening out there, Episode 64 was" (about the Durable Codings Fabric Task Force)
  • [36:53] "Episode 65, " (featuring Dr. Katie Padito about neurodiversity)

  Individual Shoutouts:

  • [29:10] "on the committee as well and represented our group, Jane Rohde." https://www.jsrassociates.net/jane

Industry Partners

The world is changing quickly. The Center for Health Design is committed to providing the healthcare design and senior living design industries with the latest research, best practices and innovations. The Center can help you solve today’s biggest healthcare challenges and make a difference in care, safety, medical outcomes, and the bottom line. Find out more at healthdesign.org.

Additional support for this podcast comes from our industry partners:

• The American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers

• The Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design

Learn more about how to become a Certified Healthcare Interior Designer® by visiting the American Academy of Healthcare Interior Designers at: https://aahid.org/.

Connect to a community interested in supporting clinician involvement in design and construction of the built environment by visiting The Nursing Institute for Healthcare Design at https://www.nursingihd.com/

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