Course Description

How do we ensure that the hospital building is safe and has the ability to offer uninterrupted care for the long term? A Health Buildings Risk Assessment allows prioritizing and creating a performance improvement plan that optimizes capital and operational expenditures. Critical equipment failure brings unexpected costs and the possible loss of revenue-generating services. It can significantly impact patient care/satisfaction and employee safety, while increasing exposure to litigation and negative public relations.

The so-called Environment of Care standards requires hospitals to maintain their buildings and understand the health of their utility systems. Another concern is during times of climatic disasters, people often make it a point to head to local hospitals in the hopes of finding safety from the storm or earthquake. However, some investigation reports that it has become apparent that flocking to nearby hospitals may not be the safest option, especially when so many people do it. Studies found that most hospitals have out-of-date generators, which are often placed in poor locations, and many other factors could lead to complications within the building. 

Other issues include the loss of infrastructures, such as electronic records, a shortage of workforce due to migration, or injury, or illness, as well as a drastic increase in the number of patients with severe illnesses or injuries.   This workshop will discuss various Facility Management and Safety issues that cover important topics such as:  Leadership and Planning, Security, Hazardous Materials and Waste Management, Disaster Preparedness, Fire Safety, Utility Systems, Facility Management Program Monitoring, Inventory Management, and Organizational Safety.