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Grooming can feel like a dance as you position yourself to best groom each canine customer. Yet being in the right place is the key to avoiding repetitive motion injuries in your wrist, arm and back.

When designing the Shor-Line Elite and Big Top Grooming Tables, the developers determined that a 180-degree pivot on the grooming arm would allow groomers to move around the table.

Notice the curved top and end. As groomers focus on the pet, it is not unusual to bump into the table. The rounded, tapered edges help you avoid bruised hips.

You need to use even the best ergonomically designed hand tools at the correct height. This table keeps your arms and wrists positioned correctly. The right tools are a solid prescription for safety.

Reducing lifting and bending are the other keys to staying healthy. The quiet electric lift operates with a foot pedal from both sides of the table, saving you steps and lifting. Protecting your lower back is critical.

The grooming arm takes the brunt of the impact if a dog new to grooming decides to bolt. Groomers tell us they have struggled with failed grooming arms on other equipment. So, we used our Shor-Line Stainless Steel expertise to manufacture a durable grooming arm that stands up to strong dogs. We think it is the best arm in the business! 

Our grooming arm is so popular that we sell it as a retrofit for competitive grooming tables. Just ask a sales rep if you need to replace an arm on another company's table.

Ergonomics is more important than ever in minimizing overuse grooming injuries. Whatever table you use, let your equipment take the strain off your body so you can spend more time doing the grooming you love.

Nothing spoils a space faster than clutter, especially in the places clients see most—reception areas and exam rooms. Keep clutter under control with these tips from Tracy Axcell:

1. USE VERTICAL WALL & CUPBOARD SPACE

Hang wall-mountable racks and files to house reading materials, forms, and other paperwork. For cupboards, measure the depth, height, and width of each shelf and purchase stackable containers. Label each container with a list of its contents.

2. USE FILE & DRAWER SPACE

Hanging files keep papers organized and out of sight. Papers used on a daily basis can be kept in an active file at the front of the drawer. Use drawer organizers with dividers or compartments to organize small instruments and supplies. Label the compartments for easy locating.

3. CONTROL MULTIPLE CORDS

Unplug cords and straighten them to their full length. Fasten cords together so they form one long rope, and tie them with a store-bought cable organizer or zip ties. Tuck the rope along baseboards or the backs of cabinets.

Pest protection is both an exterior and interior concern. Termites can sabotage a clinic’s outside walls, and pets can bring fleas and ticks inside. Prevent all three from invading your clinic with these patient-safe strategies from James Marshall Jr., AIA, in Prairie Village, Kansas:

TERMITE TREATMENTS

• Treat the ground before building begins. Pesticides that are applied under the foundation are too deep to endanger animals.
• If possible, keep all structural wood one foot above the soil.
• Choose wood that has been pressure-treated with pesticides for structural beams and fence posts.
• Install metal termite shields around in-ground wooden beams.
• Avoid stucco siding that reaches the ground. The porous material creates termite entry points.

FLEAS & TICKS

• Extend floor tiles about five inches up the sides of the walls, using epoxy for the grouting. These materials can withstand frequent cleaning, but fleas and ticks can’t. Less expensive linoleum and sheet-vinyl floors are also an option, but they can crack within a few years of installation, so repair costs often offset the initial savings.
• Seal case work and plumbing features with silicone. This coating denies fleas and ticks access to their favorite hiding places.

Here is a quick little exercise: Take 30 seconds to reflect on some of the day-to-day tasks that take place around your hospital. Not just the more obvious ones, like surgeries, but some of the more basic tasks that while small are still a critical part of the overall operation of your hospital, such as sterilizing equipment and restocking supplies.

Now think about how these tasks are affected by the design and layout of your space. Is your shelving at an easily accessible height? Are your countertops deep enough?  Is equipment easily accessible, especially in an emergency?

Hopefully, you just opened your eyes to some of the smaller, but vastly important, aspects that go into designing a new hospital. It is easy to get fixated on the bigger aspects of hospital design, like the overall look of the building or how spaces work and flow together. But successful hospital design also comes from designing for these “small things”.

Over the years, we have learned how vastly important equipment coordination is when designing a new facility. It’s an essential component that is often overlooked or left until the end. But the sooner we can coordinate equipment with our clients, the better off we all are in the end. From defining the necessities like lab equipment and animal housing, to determining how equipment will be used and stored in areas from treatment to offices, early equipment decisions can create a more efficient and well thought out hospital.

Let’s take the pack/prep area for example. Every veterinarian has different needs in their pack/prep. Specialty hospitals might require a large floor model autoclave, but a standard veterinary practice may only utilize a countertop model. Either way, there are design considerations.

With a floor autoclave, considerations include the overall size of the unit, required floor clearances around the autoclave, and even the coordination of a floor sink and built-in hot and cold water plumbing for the unit. As one can imagine, these requirements will quickly begin to dictate the overall size of your pack/prep area.

On a smaller scale, a general practice hospital will likely use a countertop autoclave, which might not seem like a big deal. However, most countertop autoclave models are actually deeper than a standard 24-inch counter. So building a deeper cabinet base might be imperative to the design. In addition, the manufacturers of these countertop models typically recommend the use of distilled water. So will you bring in outside bottles of distilled water? Or would you rather have a relatively inexpensive reverse osmosis system built in at your sink in pack/prep? These are all examples of the everyday things that are important to consider during the design and coordination stages of your hospital project.

Due to the large amount of equipment utilized in treatment, this is another important area of your hospital to think through thoroughly. Consider the ultrasound machine and think about its actual size. Where will it be located while in use?  Where will it be stored? The same applies to a crash cart. You want your crash cart to be easily accessible, but out of the way when not needed. You could have an empty alcove to tuck the cart into when not in use, or maybe a blank section of wall off to the side would be sufficient. How about your anesthesia equipment?  Will you be using mobile machines or wall mounted? If they are wall mounted, a specific location on your treatment column will need to be reserved. The list goes on and on…

What can you do to be prepared when it comes time to design your hospital?

• Decide Old Versus New. Will you be reusing equipment from your existing facility? If so, which pieces? In contrast, which pieces of your current equipment need to be replaced? Do you need to purchase any new equipment that you don’t already have? Are there any pieces of equipment that you plan to purchase in the future as your practice grows, and how can you plan for and accommodate for them in advance?
• Collect Information. If you are planning to reuse current equipment, start gathering your information ahead of time. Write down the model numbers and/or dimensions of each item. Locate the operation manuals for each piece of equipment; these usually describe any required special conditions and can often be found online.
• Go Shopping/Browsing in Advance. Make a list of the new equipment you need to purchase and become educated on the products available. In today’s market, medical technology is constantly changing, and therefore, so are the available products. Do your research. Talk to your colleagues about what equipment they use. Visit trade shows; there is no better place for one-stop shopping. You won’t be expected to have all your equipment purchased in advance, but having an idea of which specific products you think you want can go a long way during the early design process.
• Share. Compile all of the information you have collected into a folder or spreadsheet, or whatever works best for you. Be sure to give this information to your design team as early as possible so everyone is on the same page.

Ultimately, the more upfront equipment planning you can do the better. Having an architect who knows the ins and outs of veterinary equipment and design will also help immensely. The combination of your upfront planning and the architect’s expertise will allow for the ultimate collaboration on your new hospital – a collaboration that will result in a smooth design process and a well thought out hospital that will work for you for many years to come.

Brought to you by Contributing Editor Ashley M. Shoults of Animal Arts.

It happens all the time.  You reach the point in the design of your hospital where it’s time to pick material and paint colors, and the stress and anxiety begins to set in.  How can I pick colors from just these little samples?  Should I choose a bold, vibrant and exciting color palette or stick to more traditional neutral shades just to play it safe?  And no matter what I choose, how will these colors actually look when they are installed?  These are the types of questions many people ask as they design their hospital, and it’s only natural.  Color can be a scary and daunting thing.  But it doesn’t have to be!

Vibrant, punchy colors are the “in” thing these days.  Just look at the past two Pantone Colors of the Year….Tangerine Tango and Emerald Green!

It might be hard to picture a whole wall painted in one of these very bright colors.  They seem overwhelming, right?  But when used correctly, these vibrant colors can really liven up your hospital space.

For those who don’t mind living on the edge, using lively paint colors as accent walls can be really fun and energizing.  However, be careful not to overdo the accent colors or your space might start to overstimulate you, your staff and your clients.  

One technique to find balance when using bright colors is to let neutral colors ground the space.  For example, design your floors and cabinetry with neutral and sophisticated colors, and then add punch with bright, lively accent walls.

Hospitals can also look really great when color is used virtually everywhere.  That might sound overpowering, but when done right, it not only enlivens your space, but also warms it up and makes it feel more inviting.  The trick with this approach is choosing colors that are a little less intense and that are within the same color family and general tone.

If you prefer a more traditional aesthetic, there are ways to bring color into your space without bright accent walls.  Try letting your cabinetry or furniture do the talking.  Even though the current trends are showing bold, vibrant colors as the new thing, many designers are creating rooms with very neutral colors on the hard-built environment (walls, floors, etc.) and adding accent colors through furniture, cabinetry, and other decorative items.  For example, you could pick a brighter color for your built-in cabinetry or add some colorful pendant lights above the reception desk and some artwork to add a fun factor to the space.  Or perhaps pick some vibrant fabrics for your lobby seating to jazz things up.

Ultimately, when it comes to picking the colors for your new hospital or renovation, the goal is to not let color scare you.  When done right, color can often be a key factor to bringing in a little touch of energy and interest that makes your hospital feel more welcoming.

You know that great feeling that spreads through your body when the sun comes out? Wouldn’t it be nice if you could give clients that same feeling when they step into your practice? Sal Longo Jr. and Michael Crosby of Crosby Longo Architecture Studio in New Orleans offer these tips to give clients a warm welcome:

SMILE

No design strategy can take the place of a friendly face behind the front desk. Make sure you have the right receptionist— someone who will greet people cheerfully, convey warmth, and open the door for clients who need a hand.

LIGHTEN UP

A fresh coat of paint is an inexpensive, easy fix for your reception area. Lighter shades make the room seem brighter and more spacious, plus they show dirt, signaling when quick spot cleans are necessary, Longo says.

OPEN UP

If you’re designing from scratch, consider cathedral ceilings in your reception area and lots of glass on your facade, say Crosby and Longo. The airy feeling and natural light from windows create a pleasant environment. Even existing facilities can benefit from removing part of a wall to open up the space.

KEEP CATS COZY

Cats, on the other hand—along with their owners—feel more secure in smaller, more enclosed spaces away from dogs. If you can, create a separate seating area with lower ceilings for cat owners, Crosby says. Keep the space free of nooks and crannies where feline escapees can hide if they bolt from their carriers.

MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME

A hard, durable floor makes the most sense for obvious reasons, but that doesn’t mean you’re limited to industrial vinyl. Longo and Crosby encourage their clients to consider ceramic tile for the reception area. It’s a bit pricier, but it’s warmer and more homey—and still easy to clean. Another idea, especially important in the South, is to add ceiling fans, which stir the air and add nice visual detail overhead.

BRING THE OUTSIDE IN

Plants create a front porch atmosphere, which you can enhance by using durable outdoor furniture for your seating, Longo says. Just remember to choose nontoxic greenery in case some curious pet attempts a nibble. In addition, landscaping around the entrance provides a buffer between parking lot an  d hospital, shades the building in hot southern climates, and offers Buster a chance to take care of business before stepping inside.

Even if you do nothing else, your reception area can get a tremendous boost from new paint, surfaces, and lighting, Longo says. Small details, such as a hook at the checkout desk where clients can tie up their pets while they’re writing checks, also make people feel valued. If you create a homey, peaceful atmosphere in your reception area, your clients will experience that warm sunny feeling all year long.

Each year Pantone® releases their color trends for the year. This year’s colors are a refreshing bunch and are sure to brighten up your interior! The color of the year is Emerald. Take one of these refreshing colors to brighten up your facility and stay up with the latest in design trends. Some of our favorites are below, but be sure to visit www.pantone.com to learn more about 2013’s colors.

Showcasing New Products

Two new products are also showcased within the catalog. The new Scrub Sink and new Elite Grooming Tub have both been designed with radiused corners for easy cleaning. Learn more about these products as well as our other products in the new catalog.

Also found inside the catalog:

• our core products
• industry news & trends
• our new design tools
• product galleries