Five healthcare manufacturers—Hill-Rom, Brandrud, Peter Pepper, IoA Healthcare, and Quick Drain USA—topped out the 2009 Nightingale Awards Competition, held during Healthcare Design.09 in Orlando. Quick Drain USA walked away with the highest honor, a Best of Competition award.

The Nightingale Awards, sponsored by Contract, The Center for Health Design, Healthcare Design.09, and the Vendome Group, recognize excellence and innovation in healthcare product design. Entry is open to all exhibitors at the annual Healthcare Design conference and the 2009 winners were announced during an official awards ceremony at the Gaylord Palms Resort in Orlando, on Mon., Nov. 2, 2009.

Each year, a jury of design professionals reviews entrants based on the following criteria:

1. Contribution to the healing environment
2. Functionality
3. Quality and durability
4. Aesthetics and style
5. Pricing
6. Sustainability/Innovation

This year's competition was judged during Healthcare Design.09 by an esteemed jury of interior designers and architects:

Joost H. Bende, principal, Jain Malkin Inc.
G. "Yim Lim" Jew, design principal, HDR San Francisco
Jean M. Young, president, Young+Co., Inc.
Renee Zepeda, associate and senior design architect, Fletcher Thompson
Edward Bottomley, principal, CAMA, Inc.
Jason-Emery Groen, vice president, HDR Architecture

Four Nightingale awards were distributed to the following manufacturers:

The Art-of-Care Over Bed Tables, from Hill-Rom
The HealthFIRST™ Infection Control Centers, from Peter Pepper Products.
The JJ pediatric chair, from IoA Healthcare Furniture
Florabella, from Brandrud

A Best of Competition, Nightingale Awards 2009, was awarded to Quick Drain, from Quick Drain USA.

In addition to being recognized during Healthcare Design.09, winners will also receive coverage in Contract magazine and a personalized glass award.