Sep 5, 2023 _ news

Ben Earls Takes Up the PEN in Seattle

The Pediatric Environment Network (PEN), launched last year by the Center for Health Design brings together leaders from around the country in healthcare facilities, design, manufacturing, and consulting to support improved outcomes through the design of pediatric healthcare environments. At their annual meeting, which took place this year at Seattle Children’s Hospital, GBBN Associate Principal and PEN member, Ben Earls, shared insights into the work we’ve done with Cincinnati Children’s Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute. “PEN creates the space for us to come together and proactively plan for the future.”

 

PEN members meet throughout the year to engage in open, confidential, and supportive conversation, have one-to-one dialogues, share best practices, and tour facilities—all to increase learning and advance health-generating design in pediatric care environments. The initiative brings leaders together for practical problem solving of unique pediatric issues including safety and security in the workplace and extending behavioral health services into different care facilities to help remove barriers to treatment. Patient-centered cancer care, and speeding research breakthroughs from the bench to the bedside are also key topics of conversation.

 

“What’s so valuable about being involved with PEN is the breaking down of barriers between institutions, design firms, and manufacturers through open dialogue,” says Ben. “We are all confronting similar challenges, and PEN helps us solve them together.”

 

Learn more about Ben.

Learn more about our work with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, including their College Hill Behavioral Health Center, Clinical Sciences Pavilion; Family Pet Center; Concourse and Arrival; as well their new Centerville and Eastgate locations.

Find out more about our healthcare work here.