Boston – IFMA Boston Healthcare Network presented a program entitled “Impactful Capital” at Children’s Hospital Boston. The topic introduced and later discussed in a question and answer period provided a proven approach for identifying the facility investments, even those with higher first costs, that produce the most meaningful results.
The speakers were John D’Angelo, VP Engineering and Facilities Operations, New York Presbyterian Hospital and Karen Reno, EDAC Safe Health Design Managing Consultant, Joint Commission Resources, Inc.
“The Environment of Care is critical and foundational to delivering expected Patient Outcomes, Patient Safety and Patient Experience,” explains D’Angelo in a synopsis sent to High-Profile. “Outcomes are driven by healthcare associated infections which are as much related to HVAC pressure/humidity/filtration relationships as they are to caregiver hand washing. Safety is driven by reliability of utility systems, fire prevention and fall prevention. Experience is driven by patient control of their environment (HVAC and lighting), access to natural light and views, and quiet, restful sleep. Evidenced based design shows that providing a quality Environment of Care engages caregivers, reduces staff turnover and attracts top clinical talent. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recognizes that all of this improves patient care and reduces cost to the point where reimbursements are tied to improving Patient Experience scores.”
“Healthcare is an inherently low margin business. Those organizations that have figured out how to address the needs of their Environment of Care in their financial model will continue to emerge as leaders in exceptional Patient Outcomes, Patient Safety and Patient Experience. Without an understanding of impactful capital decision making, organizations that do not address these needs will face accelerating erosion of quality caregivers on staff, patients choosing treatment at their facilities, and financial viability. To say that you are focused on the patient is no longer enough, a hospital’s processes must be aligned to actually do so.”
Recently returning from mid east engagements Dr. Reno pointed out specific case studies that demonstrated the need to rethink some of the most established ways of approaching how we build and maintain our health care facilities. i.e. the smoothly polished floors have long thought to be the best way to decrease microbes but it has been discovered that porous floors hold the antiseptic cleaning fluids that prevent microbes from thriving.
IFMA Healthcare Network co-chairs are: Sandra Soraci, DAI -DiGiorgio Associates Inc., director, healthcare strategy & interior design and Alison Faecher -TRO Jung Brannen, associate principal, director of interior design.