Also known as a patient room headwall system, a hospital headwall system is an architectural feature that combines electrical and medical gas functions while effectively managing cords and tubing. Ultimately, hospital headwalls reduce clutter, manage all the patient care accessories, improve caregiver workflow, and enhance the area’s aesthetic. In short, headwalls create a pleasing environment and a clean, relaxed atmosphere.

While hospital headwall systems are an excellent solution to a variety of problems for both staff and patients, headwalls have had a bit of a bad rap in the past. Functionality has been questioned in hospital headwall designs due to issues such as poorly placed outlets creating frustration for both staff and patients alike. Many people viewed headwalls as “ugly” or “depressing” due to outdated, un-appealing designs. Not only does this decrease workplace satisfaction, but it can create anxiety and unease for the patient. A hospital stay can be overwhelming as it is, which is why creating an appealing, therapeutic environment for the patients, guests, and staff is crucial. The design of a headwall is key to the functionality and flow of a room, so it is important to consider all factors and perspectives when choosing or designing a product.

Imagine a patient being easily able to charge their phone from the comfort of their own hospital bed. Imagine staff easily able to reconfigure outlets as needed.

This is what patients and staff deserve. This is what the forWard Headwall can do.

Healthcare facilities often struggle to find cost-effective solutions for headwalls that are both inviting and functional. Our answer to this problem? We introduced the forWard® headwall system, an engineered solution for a complex healthcare issue.

The forWard headwall is a prefabricated hospital headwall system for buyers who value integrity and innovation. Coupled with the turn-key capabilities of Steve Ward and Associates, forWard® helps create functional, yet inspiring and beautiful healing environments.

This quick and non-invasive headwall system comes in 2-foot sections that are pre-plugged and pre-wired. The panels are no thicker than a typical drywall partition. The panels are laminated with 24 gauge steel backed by ⅝” Gypsum board, providing superior durability against scratches and impact-resistance. An average 8-foot wide forWard headwall system can be installed in under 30 minutes.

The forWard headwall is not surface-mounted like many other brands on the market today. forWard does not require drywall, paint or veneer to function. When placed back-to-back, the panels fit inside a 4 ⅞” wall cavity, eliminating the need to use 6” studs and saving as much as 1 1/8” of square footage. Over the course of a long patient room corridor, even multiplied upwards over several floors, this can add valuable square footage, saving money and maximizing efficiency.

forWard headwalls promote the freedom of design and increased efficiency, helping reduce construction costs and allowing healthcare staff to focus on what matters most – quality patient care.

Unique benefits of the forWard headwall system (in addition to those listed above) include:

• Easy removal of outlets or gases without having to cut into a finished wall.
• Plug and Play
• Eliminates the need for bed locators and impact-resistant wall coverings.
• Construction materials can include antimicrobial properties, reducing contamination and infection.
• Aesthetic appeal with paneling available in multiple colors, woodgrains, patterns and textures to create a sophisticated and calming atmosphere.
• forWard headwall panels can be all walls of the patient room, including footwalls with recessed PV.
• The forWard headwall system is unique in that it carries an STC rating of 51, as compared to typical drywall partitions, which carry a 45 STC rating. These superior acoustical properties assist in the desire for a “quiet” hospital, increasing patient privacy.
• When maintenance is required inside the headwall, time, revenue, and energy will be saved due to our patented “lock-in” construction. Since the forWard headwall system eliminates the need for drywall, paint, or wall protection, infection control measures are significantly shortened.
• Easily cleaned

Medical professionals are often in stressful and time sensitive situations. Hospital headwalls add value in these situations by not only reducing visual clutter, but also by creating safer and more effective environments in which they can work successfully.

• Hospital headwalls are designed to improve equipment organization and layout. This ensures a safe and productive working atmosphere for healthcare employees who won’t have to worry about bumping into equipment or moving cords out of their way, especially in an emergency.
• Reduced patient trip hazards with cords, tubing and electrical wiring neatly secured in the headwall. There are far less obstacles for patients to maneuver around. This is incredibly beneficial as many statistics claim at least ⅓ of adults 65 or older trip and fall annually. That number steadily increases as the age of the patient increases.
• Reduces the time it takes to provide care to patients. A properly designed headwall aides a medical professional in providing fast and proper care. With easy access to outlets and equipment, a headwall enables efficient patient care. Saving time also saves lives.
• Improve patient comfort and safety with nurse call buttons, bed rails, storage and other equipment within a patient’s reach so they do not have to leave their bed for help.

Traditional headwall construction is stick-built, basic drywall with a millwork panel added overtop. Cutouts are made onsite. This style is quite labor-intensive, which means a large number of trades working in one space during installation. While the final product is a beautiful headwall, managing a large number of skilled trades on-site is timely and costly.

A pre-manufactured headwall is a prefabricated wall that is brought on site to the hospital, and basically fills a hole in the patient room wall. Historically, these are not the most attractive option, but pre-manufactured headwalls are very functional and save on-site construction time.

With forWard headwalls, you don’t have to choose between aesthetics and functionality. forWard headwall systems are a new generation of prefabricated headwalls that are customizable, flexible, and offer hundreds of wood grain, pattern and color options to give your space a sophisticated and relaxing ambience. Aesthetics are important to increase patient and staff comfort by reducing stress and anxiety in a room. With forWard, you get the beauty and functionality traditional and pre-manufactured headwalls can lack.

In fact, forWard headwall panels can be all walls of the patient room, including footwalls with recessed PV. The same panels as the headwall are used for this, but are typically different colors to highlight the beautiful accented headwall.

1. Patient Rooms
2. Emergency Room
3. Outpatient Surgery Centers
4. Labor and Delivery
5. Postpartum
6. Critical Care
7. Trauma
8. Intensive Care Areas
9. Radiation & Chemotherapy

The forWard headwall system is cost-competitive with any headwall system on the market. Starting from the beginning project stages, we can help your hospital planning and design team to get true statements and cost. We offer a turn-key solution, including design services from the outset of the project, in order to help coordinate the location of medical gas, electrical, nurse call, and more early in the construction process. We are experienced in helping our clients design and achieve beautiful, functional, cost-effective headwall systems for any patient room. We will be there to assist you from the beginning stages all the way through to installation.

In 2008, we began the journey towards becoming a lean company. One of its primary areas of focus has been the installation phase of our work. The area where we noticed a significant potential for improved efficiency was in the fabrication and installation of hospital headwall designs. Our experience with “piecemeal” hospital headwall units revealed a major opportunity for improved coordination. All the while, a condensed construction schedule and mitigation of lead times was the ultimate goal in an effort to reduce downtime and interruptions in patient care.

The forWard headwall is not surface mounted like many other brands on the market today. When placed back-to-back, the panels fit inside a 4 ⅞” wall cavity, eliminating the need to use 6” studs and saving as much as 1 1/8” of square footage. The average forWard headwall can be installed in under 30 minutes! Steve Ward & Associates are experienced at managing onsite installation, creating a seamless finished product, and giving our customers peace of mind.

1. Design assistance
2. Project planning
3. On-time project delivery
4. Project management
5. Quality installation
6. LEAN construction principles