Healthcare facilities management series最新文献

As changes in health care delivery move faster than ever, small or rural hospitals are struggling in a catch-up mode. In order to reverse this trend, these facilities need to reassess their position in the marketplace and develop a flexible plan for responding to the needs. This document provides a model to help achieve the vision of the physical plant in its supporting role to the strategic vision for the hospital, as well as options in the business of caring in a variety of alternative caregiving and treatment environments.

With the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' (JCAHO) new Environment of Care (EC) standards now in place, many facilities are struggling to reorganize their programs to meet JCAHO requirements. This document provides practical advice on how to approach a JCAHO survey and what a facilities manager can do to be as fully prepared as possible.

In the past 10 years, waste management has become a significant budget item. Previously, it was a tertiary function, coming after clinical and other facility support functions. But now that environmental concerns have spread and environmental responsibility becomes an accepted part of facility management, waste management is now a central issue. This document examines several ways to cut costs in a waste management program, primarily in the area of solid waste.

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is applying statistical process control techniques to monitor processes and measure the results of efforts to improve a process. Statistical process control techniques have been used for decades by the manufacturing industries and have translated well into the service industries. This article describes the successful use of control charts in improving processes within an engineering department.

Health care facilities are planning for changes in regulations regarding chlorofluorocarbon-based refrigerants. These changes are imminent, leaving little time to figure out what to do with equipment using these refrigerants. This article looks at the background of the CFC phaseout program and reviews options available to engineers in assessing their equipment.

The operating room presents environmental safety concerns unlike any problems in other parts of a health care facility. Special disciplines must be utilized to ensure that risk is minimized during surgery. This document addresses the needs of both the surgeon and the plant engineer in order for both groups to learn more about the other's concerns and problems.

This document summarizes the changes that have been made to the 1992/93 edition of Guidelines for Construction and Equipment of Hospital and Medical Facilities in producing the 1993 edition. The general format and technical content follow the 1987 edition. Other changes not mentioned here were made to correct errors, clarify intent, and generally update the standards in conformance with current minimum needs and state-of-the-art medical and design procedures. The document is divided into two parts: Part One covers architectural considerations; Part Two deals with engineering criteria.

In the past 15 years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of radio frequency emission sources that have entered medical treatment areas. Personal computers, digital pagers, hand-held radios, cellular phones, and wireless input devices have all become more prevalent in the contemporary clinical environment. Because of the productivity gains these devices promise, it is unlikely that the use of electronic instrumentation and wireless technologies will diminish--in fact greater uses are projected. Along with the benefits these devices provide, they also create a greater opportunity for increased electromagnetic interference among devices. It is important that engineering and professional staff are aware of some of the complex interactions these devices can create. Managing this emerging problem should be a concern for the medical community. Engineering staff should be able to communicate effectively with medical staff, patients, and visitors regarding potential interactions and how to recognize them and mitigate their consequences.