During the last decade, the healthcare industry has recognised that the physical environment of a hospital or clinic is an important resource that can affect all patients. A first-rate healing environment will emphasise excellent clinical quality and one of the most important principles is to create a safe and comfortable environment that meets the patient's needs. At the Hospital Build Middle East Exhibition & Congress, currently under way in Dubai, industry experts in the field of healthcare facilities engage in detailed discussion of how such an environment can be created at the healthcare facilities in the Middle East.
The construction, operation and management of a new hospital involves a great deal of planning. Cooperation with a multitude of companies, ranging from furniture designers to caterers, is essential. Maintaining a safe environment in hospitals depends not only on the infrastructure, but also the fittings, equipment and materials that are used on the premises. Hospital Build Middle East brings together the entire spectrum of suppliers, manufacturers and designers who can help create a controlled, safe environment were patients can receive treatment.
Nurture, by Steelcase, is a US-based company that uses research driven design and a holistic approach to provide furniture for use in healthcare facilities. In the GCC region, Nurture has engaged in a strategic alliance with Emitac Healthcare Group to provide healthcare solutions to the United Arab Emirates and the wider Middle East region.
"Nurture is using Hospital Build to raise awareness about evidence based design, sustainability and infection control for healthcare in the Middle East. There is a large contingent of design firms at this exhibition and we need to be here to support them and their projects," said Abdul R Mokayed, Sales Manager – Healthcare Middle East.
"Infection control is a big consideration for any company engaged in producing furniture for healthcare facilities as the closer you get the patient in a hospital environment, the more vital this becomes. At Nurture, we try to limit the amount of seams we use in our upholstery, and use vapour barriers and acrylic surfaces, among other things, to minimise the risk of infection."
"Nurture has a bold vision to shape and improve the future of healthcare delivery. We concentrate on space and environments and how products within those environments can help make them more comfortable, more efficient and more conducive to the healing process," said Kyle Williams, Nurture's Vice President and General Manager.
Graboplast Rt. is also exhibiting at Hospital Build for the first time. This Hungarian floor covering manufacturer specialises in anti-bacterial contract floor covering for hospitals using nano-silver and nanotechnology to eliminate bacteria from the surface of the floor.
Irma Toth, Export Manager, Graboplast, explains: "Hospital construction in the Middle East is expanding rapidly and we feel our product has a place in this growing market. Infection control is a fundamental consideration in hospital design and our use of nano-titandioxide and silver particles eliminates 99 per cent of viral bacteria from hospital floors, significantly reducing the incidence of hospital bugs such as MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) bacteria."
Hospital Build Middle East 2010 plays host to a number of other companies specialising in infection control technologies and products. These include industry front-runners such as Berkvens (partner of Buhindi International), Responsive Industries Limited, Method Enterprise and Vescom Dubai producing a range of products including flooring, doors and frames, stainless steel fittings, upholstery and wall coverings that have in-built anti-bacterial or anti-viral properties, or are designed specifically to reduce infection.
Running alongside the Hospital Build Middle East exhibition is a multi-disciplinary congress consisting of eight leading conferences and is designed as an educational platform for senior managers and decision makers at healthcare facilities. The conference program will address healthcare technology applications, hospital build & design, facilities management, investment & finance, human resources in healthcare, healthcare marketing, workflow management, quality, standards and accreditation, and leaders in healthcare.
Organised by IIR Middle East, the team behind Arab Health, the three-day Hospital Build Middle East Exhibition & Congress will continue on 3 June, 2010, from 10.00am to 6.00pm. Trade visitors have unlimited access to the exhibition, and may register their participation any time during the event.
