By Peter Costanzo, Director – Facilities Management Team
This is part of a series of posts on the needs of facilities managers in various industries. While there are always common issues – space and maintenance optimization – there are specific needs in a healthcare environment, this post will address some of those issues.
Hospitals and healthcare systems rely on their facilities and equipment to deliver not only positive health outcomes for patients but also higher quality care. Well maintained facilities contribute significantly to the bottom line, lead to better care, and can increase internal as well as external customer satisfaction. In addition, healthcare organizations must navigate a sea of safety and environmental regulations, accrediting agencies, and government rules. Facilities management plays an important role in all of these.
A properly implemented integrated workplace management system will enable institutions to meet facility needs while keeping track of regulatory compliance and certification.
- Maintain accreditation. It’s possible to access data related to compliance history in one place. This makes gaining and maintaining accreditation easier and preparing for audits by organizations such as The Joint Commission (TJC), Accreditation Canada, or the Care Quality Commission (UK) can be done with confidence. Data related to preventive maintenance and environment of care is easily accessible. Facilities management teams can run reports to meet the accreditation demands of these organizations and also demonstrate how they have resolved prior citations; it’s easy to provide compliance history as well as plan for improvement item tracking.
- Comply with regulations. Whether it’s OSHA, EPA, the National Fire Protection Association, Environment Canada, or CCOHS, complying with regulations can be an administrative nightmare. With a central, searchable repository for safety information, environmental data, and permits. It’s possible to track changes over time with ease.
- Maximize reimbursements. When facility information, such as space utilization data, is accurate and accessible, it’s easier for healthcare organizations to get the largest possible reimbursements from third party payers, such as Medicaid and research grants. ARCHIBUS provides defensible space usage information which streamlines chargebacks.
Successful healthcare facilities managers need to know what information they have, where it resides and have a plan for keeping that data up to date. Once data is mapped, then consider what processes are working well, what needs changing and how an automated system would change how workflow occurs today.
They must also look to the future and keep their teams in line with corporate goals –whether that’s aimed at reducing expenses, increasing positive patient outcomes or faster compliance with upcoming regulations. Creating, adhering to and periodically reviewing a facilities management roadmap can be key to long-term success with healthcare facilities management.
Learn more in our whitepaper - The Healthcare Facilities Manager's Dilemma.
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