A Comprehensive Approach to Healthcare Facility Evaluation

We live in a world of limited resources and pronounced needs. Whether we are talking about creating eco-effective environments or healing environments, accountability for the way we build and design buildings is an ethical mandate. More specifically, the goal is to meet the objectives of our clients effectively. Good facility evaluations are a means to objectively evaluate whether we have achieved the goals we intended to achieve.

This presentation describes a well-designed evaluation process. The material was specifically developed to instruct firms and healthcare organizations in the art and science of evaluation research. The idea of conducting valid and reliable research outside of the academy has been challenged by many who question the capability of designers to conduct legitimate evaluations. This presentation rebuts that theory.

Course Objectives:

• Participants will learn about the terminology associated with building evaluation research.
  
  
• Participants will be exposed to a summary of the approaches used by experts in the field.
  
  
• Participants will become acquainted with the business case for evaluation.
  

About the Speaker

Mardelle McCuskey Shepley, B.A., M.Arch., M.A. (psychology), D.Arch., AIA, ACHA, LEED AP, EDAC, is the William Peña endowed professor at the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University, and Director of the Center for Health Systems and Design, which is home to the world's largest collection of interdisciplinary faculty, students, and professionals committed to research on environments for healthcare. Her previous positions included interim department head, and associate dean. She received the dean's award for exemplary service in 2008.

Dr. Shepley is a registered architect with 20 years of experience in professional practice, and has received multiple research grants and awards. Founder of a design research consulting firm, Art+Science, her areas of expertise are critical care facilities, sustainability, and building evaluation. Dr. Shepley recently received the Gravens Award for Leadership. In 2001, she was selected to be a Texas A&M Faculty Fellow based on her contributions as a researcher.