Brandrud, working closely with parent company Herman Miller, Inc., and its Herman Miller for Healthcare division, is establishing a new category of ergonomically advanced patient room seating with Nala, a chair design that addresses the needs of patients and their caregivers.
Nala will be introduced at the Healthcare Design 08 conference, located at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Washington, D.C., November 8-11, 2008.
Leveraging the research, technologies and engineering applied to its ergonomic task chairs, Herman Miller for Healthcare collaborated with Brandrud and Boston-based Design Continuum to create a patient chair that provides the comfortable support and ergonomic principles and technologies first demonstrated in Herman Miller's industry-leading work chair designs.
Beth Nickels, president of Herman Miller for Healthcare, notes that Nala has been long awaited by healthcare practitioners who were asking for ergonomic innovation in patient seating. "We've had great success with Herman Miller's ergonomic task chairs, but we knew it was time to develop a health-positive seating product that dramatically improves the patient experience," she says.
Nala's development over the past year incorporated research-based design principles and ongoing prototype analysis with caregivers and ergonomists. "Herman Miller's Research and Design team consulted with over 200 caregivers and hospital staff from around the country and with over 70 healthcare A&D professionals," says Tom Granzow, senior program manager with Herman Miller for Healthcare. "We actively pursued their feedback and carefully considered how we could apply it to the final design of the chair."
A patient-centered approach guided Nala's design and ergonomic features. "A patient-centered approach meant that Nala would move the way the human body moved, while supporting patients in healthful ways," notes Granzow. "Our research indicates that getting a patient out of bed and into a chair is an important step in the recovery process. We want to provide a comfortable, supportive and safe seating solution that will assist in this process."
But Nala also considers the needs of caregivers with features that assist the caregiver in moving patients in and out of the chair, including arms that swing up and out of the way and wheels that engage to move the chair closer to the patient bed.
Nala is available with three tilt options: fixed, flex, and Harmonic tilt. The Harmonic tilt option keeps the body aligned and echoes its natural pivot points at the ankle, knee, and hip. It also maintains a gentle, consistent resistance and moves smoothly throughout the range of motion. The tilt control is located on both armrests and operable from either, making it easy for caregivers or patients to locate and use.
The seat is designed to provide patients with a place to position their feet and stabilize their bodies as they get out of the chair. The chair's soft front edge comfortably guides patients into the seat. An optional ottoman is available for additional support.
Patient safety, caregiver concerns, and hospital protocols contributed to Nala's cleanable, durable finishes, and materials. Crypton, Green Crypton, vinyl, solution-dyed nylon and polyester, and polyurethane represent an array of options that may be specified for the chair.
Nala was developed according to Herman Miller's rigorous Design for the Environment protocol, emphasizing safe materials, recycled content, and ease of disassembly. It is PVC-free, 86 percent recyclable, and made from 33 percent recycled materials. Nala is MBDC Silver certified and carries a 12-year warranty.
About Brandrud, Inc.
Brandrud, Inc., a Herman Miller company, manufactures an award-winning product portfolio of seating, tables, casework, and accessories for healthcare, education, and corporate environments. Founded in 1955, the company addresses the unique needs of its customers through meticulous craftsmanship and intelligent design. Based in Auburn, Washington, Brandrud is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Herman Miller, Inc., a company cited by FORTUNE magazine as both the "Most Admired" company in its industry and among the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America. Herman Miller trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol MLHR. Visit www.brandrud.com for additional information.
About Herman Miller for Healthcare
Herman Miller for Healthcare delivers thoughtful applications to healthcare environments for the well-being and comfort of staff, patients, and their families. Its network of nurse consultants, clinical designers, and sales professionals provides research-based, problem-solving solutions to improve working and healing. Herman Miller for Healthcare is a charter member of the Health Facility Institute, a sustaining member of the Coalition for Health Environments Research, and a Research Partner with the Center for Health Design. Herman Miller for Healthcare is a division of Herman Miller, Inc. For additional information, visit www.hermanmiller.com/healthcare.