GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Steelcase® Health, a leading provider of healthcare spaces that deliver greater connection, empathy and wellbeing, today unveiled Surround™, a collection of healthcare furnishings designed to support family members in healthcare environments. With the flexibility to serve as a sleep surface or sofa and features to support eating, working and socialization, the Surround™ Collection offers family members a designated space in a patient room to support the care of their loved one, relax in comfort and communicate effectively with clinicians.

Research shows that family involvement in care can influence patient satisfaction and outcomes and improve the experiences of patients, family members and healthcare providers. Recent insights and observations from Steelcase Health indicate that patient rooms often do not adequately meet the needs of family members and are not designed to help them navigate the multiple roles they play while supporting a loved one who is hospitalized. In many current patient room settings, family members are often faced with challenges related to communication, sleeping, sharing meals, hosting visitors, storage and overcrowding, and maintaining daily routines such as paying bills and working.

Steelcase Health created the Surround™ Collection to better support family members and their ability to be involved in a patient’s care.

“Healthcare environments can be a tool to help providers support family members’ desire to be involved in a loved one’s care, but few hospitals leverage the space they have to do this effectively,” said Michelle Ossmann, PhD, MSN, Director of Healthcare Environments for Steelcase Health. “Unfortunately, family space design can often feel like an afterthought. Surround helps to create a space that indicates family is welcome and supports basic activities like eating, sleeping, and engaging in critical conversations with doctors and nurses.”

Developed with Steelcase Health observations and reviews of industry trend data, peer-reviewed research, and case studies, the Surround Collection addresses many family member concerns. It:

supports daily living activities, such as eating, working, sleeping, socializing, and hosting;
accommodates frequent, inclusive conversation among patients, family members, and clinicians;
provides a designated space for family members to place belongings;
enables flexibility of seating to support a range of body types and postures, including sleeping, lounging and reclining; and

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