Flooring company wants patients to step in line

There’s a company that wants you to watch your step, and its research may show providers how to reduce falls.

Ecore turns reclaimed waste into commercial flooring, playgrounds and turf fields for healthcare, hospitality, athletic, corporate and public space environments.  Now the company wants to see if flooring can reduce the risk of falls and fall-related injuries in healthcare settings.

Duke Health and Novant Health have joined the Pebble Project, a research initiative on patient safety. Johns Hopkins Health is expanding its participating by installing Forest rx flooring in an additional 56 patient rooms. The Pebble Project is a collaboration with hospitals, a retirement community and The Center for Health Design, which uses an evidence-based design process for healthcare capital projects.

“This research is designed to address if and how the built environment might reduce pain and suffering, while eliminating costs associated with injuries,” said Mark Huxta, director of healthcare sales for Ecore in a press release. “By enlisting additional prominent, world-class providers and a larger cross representation of acuities, levels of care and types of patients and residents, we will have more data points and an even better understanding of flooring’s impact on patient safety.”

The project began in 2014, and Encore will continue to study the possible direct relationship between flooring and reduced falls risk through the end of 2017. 

Nicole Stempak

Nicole was Senior Editor at I Advance Senior Care and Long Term Living Magazine 2015-2017. She has a Journalism degree from Kent State University and is finalizing a master’s degree in Information Architecture and Management. She has extensive studies in the digital user experience and in branding online media. She has worked as an editor and writer for various B2B publications, including Business Finance.