Medical weight scales are one of those pieces of essential medical equipment which are so ubiquitous that they are often simply taken for granted in many clinical settings. Yet failure to pay close attention to their characteristics and properties can lead to everything from misdiagnoses to failure to detect symptoms altogether.
The focus for healthcare facilities is changing. HealthcareDesignMagazine.com surveyed professionals in Healthcare administration and found the important topics going into 2016 are the impact of design on staff satisfaction and on infection control and prevention. This change reflects the growing consensus in the industry of the need for hospitals to support their staff and the world’s need to take infection control more seriously.
The Veterans Health Administration operates under government oversight to serve one of the world's largest healthcare populations. The group currently operates 152 hospitals, 800 outpatient clinics, 126 nursing home units, and 35 domiciliaries.
These facilities serve a large population of veterans and service personnel, and many of them are over 60 years old. The need for new and updated VA facilities has prompted multiple medical construction projects.
As medical facilities and healthcare organizations across the nation continue to experience dramatic growth and expansion of both services and facilities, they also must grapple with the logistics challenges presented by such developments.
Purchasing a single capital equipment item is usually a pretty straight forward process. The purchasing department prepares a purchase order, sends it off to the manufacturer or selected distributor and then waits for the item to be received.
However, when multiple items are being ordered from different vendors for a time sensitive, mid-sized to large construction project, a specified purchase order tracking process may be required so things don't get lost or fall through the cracks.
Constructing or retrofitting Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals is a complicated process with many parts and people to organize. The right medical and non-medical equipment, furnishings, along with installers, and knowledgeable personnel must be in place and operate under strict deadlines.
Adherence to government as well as local regulations is a must. Knowledge, efficiency and pricing are the primary keys for successful project planning, implementation and on-time completion. Without them, medical facility construction can be a financial disaster.
The Architecture, Capital Equipment, and Engineering (ACE) Summit and Reverse Expo held from Feb. 1-3 in Atlanta, Georgia highlighted the biggest challenges and questions facing healthcare suppliers, vendors, architects, engineers, and other heavy hitters in the industry. These include whether healthcare projects are in demand or profitable with some of the biggest areas of focus for participants being location and the cost effectiveness of these projects.
A Google search of “IO&T” brings up references to the "Internet Of Things", but that’s not what we’re talking about here. IO&T is the acronym for Initial Outfitting and Transition, a federal government term used for the overall process of setting up military medical facilities.
The last several decades have seen the rise of an immersive experience in the design of publicly accessed facilities such as theme parks, retail spaces, and healthcare facilities. Yes, you read that right! Designing and planning a healthcare facility isn't all that different from planning a theme park.
There are lessons to be learned from examining how other publicly accessed facilities successfully incorporate cutting edge technology, integrate information delivery, address traffic flow, and create a variety of dedicated spaces.
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