Engineering Healthy Hospitals Services
We also provide services directed at disease prevention in all industries.
Phase Studies
Medical Centers are highly complex industrial areas and they take getting used to. The best method to analyze hospitals is through a series of investigations. These studies are designed to provide information that will illuminate hospital design and practices associated with disease prevention. They are divided so that each phase represents a necessary investigative step of a healthcare facility. The Phase One study is required as the first step to review any facility.
A. Phase One Study
This study is designed to begin assessing the condition of a facility based on its general condition, It also looks at design, maintenance, and some operational aspects. It is used to give guidance for futures changes so that the facility can progress towards a certified disease prevention facility.
B. Phase Two Study
This study examines a complete hospital ward or functional location. The results of this study will layout design changes to solve endemic local problems. The study will include but is not limited to measurements for pathogens, HVAC operation, and cleanliness.
C. Phase Three Study
Examines the general operations related to disease prevention procedures/protocols. It also examines training of personnel through interviews with nurses, physicians, and staff technicians. It examines internal training programs and quality assurance/quality control procedures. Does not include measurements.
D. Review of New Healthcare Facility Design and Review of Plans
There are many other disease prevention efforts that can help to prevent the creation of white elephant facilities. Today it is essential that all hospitals either under construction or in planning have the designs reviewed so that a healthy hospital will result.
All new hospitals need to be checked for specifics disease prevention. It is the designer’s responsibility to defend their plans and show that have met design requirements for disease prevention. Grousing about costs is always short-sighted. Minor changes in design can offer great benefits to patients. Staff safety is priceless.
E. Benchmark Facility
All facilities should be bench marked in order have a basis to manage its life cycle with respect to disease prevention. This includes HVAC operation and maintenance, facility wide pathogen levels, and the general cleanliness of the airborne and surface levels.
F. Grade Facility with the IFORD Comprehensive Disease Prevention Checklist (CDPC)
CDPC is used to review proposed designs for new facilities and investigate facilities for retrofit of appropriate disease prevention modifications. The product of the CDPC is a grade so the facility change be compared to others in its category after a thorough examination. This will become the standard for planning changes to design and processes and can be used for a facility to entice consumers.
G. Staff Seminars
Planned reviews of Disease Prevention Topics, procedures or other material.
Remediation
Remediation of pathogen contaminated areas such as rooms, wards or other facility locations. This process involves interior spaces and volumes using ozone disinfection.
Special Problems
Issues always arise that do not meet the criteria listed above. This is the definition of special problems. They may be never before experienced phenomena that are unique to a geographical location or specific facility.