EDAC™ — the Evidence-Based Design Accreditation and Certification program, from The Center for Health Design — educates and assesses individuals on their understanding of how to base design decisions on available, credible evidence. The goal of the program is not to test people on their knowledge of current available evidence, but rather to test them on the proper process to follow in order to identify, hypothesize, implement, gather, and report the data associated with their project.

The healthcare design industry has come a long way in terms of what is understood about the impact of the built environment on global health and safety. There are a growing number of rigorous scientific studies that support using an evidence-based design (EBD) process.
 

What is EBD?
The Center for Health Design defines evidence-based design as "the process of basing decisions about the built environment on credible research to achieve the best possible outcomes."
 

Who Should Become EDAC Accredited?

The 2006 Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities included a new section that defines the environment of care components. As EBD becomes more widespread, healthcare organizations understand its importance and want to build their facilities with the guidance of EBD practitioners. Thus, in order to study the role the built environment plays to improve outcomes; we must have dedicated and disciplined EBD professionals who are committed to expanding credible EBD research through their respective disciplines.

Anyone interested in becoming more knowledgeable about the evidence-based design process - from novices to veterans - can learn and study, then take and pass the EDAC exam, including:
Architects & Designers. Hospital Executives and Healthcare Providers

Why Become EDAC Accredited?
Benefits include:

• Public recognition of your expertise
• Increased value with clients and employers
• Ability to share a common language
• Skills to incorporate the newest findings into projects
• Credibility when justifying expenditures associated with design decisions and innovations
• Enhancing future design by creating new research and adding to the body of knowledge
• Visibility on a roster of accredited EBD professionals
• Access to ongoing professional learning and advancement