From: Dennis M. Kirkwood <DennisK@KirkwoodAssociates.com>
To: • Healthcare Facilities <DennisK@KirkwoodAssociates.com>
Cc: "Dennis M. Kirkwood" <DennisK@kirkwoodassociates.com>
Date: Saturday, July 15, 2000 8:27 AM
Subject: July, 2000 Healthcare Facilities Items of Interest
H E A L T H C A R E F A C I L I T I E S I T E M S O F I N T E R E S T
Kirkwood & Associates, LLC • Facility Management Consulting • July, 2000
1) URBAN SIMULATION DEMO'S
2) HONEYWELL GOES DOT-COM
3) JCAHO ENVIRONMENT OF CARE STANDARD REVISIONS FOR 2001
4) MICHIGAN BLUES ON A SAFETY KICK
5) CAFM WORKSHOP / SHORT COURSE
6) VFA ASSESSES ARMY MEDICAL FACILITIES
1) URBAN SIMULATION DEMO'S
In the June, 1999 newsletter we described briefly the "urban simulation"
tools being developed by list member Gerry Kaplan and colleagues at Giffels
Strategic Consulting, LLC in Detroit. Urban simulations are
computer-generated "movies" which afford "through-the-windshield" views of
building exteriors in an urban or campus setting using 3-D CAD modeling and
existing / proposed site plans. I've seen several of them and found them to
be very realistic representations.
They would seem to be a very useful planning tool to visualize the impact of
additions & new buildings on campus sites, to "preview" exterior treatments
and design alternatives in a fairly realistic way, to assess site
circulation and wayfinding, etc.
Gerry has posted four example "movies" on the Giffels web-site for your
viewing pleasure. They are:
<Northwest> -- This is a very simple representation of a new airplane hangar
for Northwest Airlines at Detroit Metro Airport, as seen from a vehicle
driving on Rogell Drive at the airport.
<UAW-GM> -- This is a more complex representation of the planned UAW-GM
Human Resources complex, again as seen from a vehicle driving along the
perimeter drive around the site and then entering the site.
<Sterling Heights 1> and <Sterling Heights 2> -- These are representations
of renovations / additions to an existing municipal office complex in
Sterling Heights, MI, again from the perspective of a driver approaching the
office complex. Exterior directional signage is evident at several points.
Here are the step-by-step instructions for viewing the files. (If all else
fails, find a nine-year-old to help you!)
1) Using a web browser, go to the Giffels web site <www.giffels-usa.com>
2) When the Home Page comes up on your screen, click on "Online Projects" in
the left frame
3) In the "Online Projects" screen, click on "Demo"
4) In the "Welcome to Virtual Reality Web Site" screen, click on "Enter
Site"
5) In the "Login" screen, enter Login Name: giffels [NOTE: all lower case]
and Password: agsal1 [NOTE: all lower case]
6) On the "Virtual Reality Web Site" page, click on one of the four
Information Items (i.e., the four movies listed above) in the frame at the
left of the window
7) A Windows Media Player window will open and the movie will begin to play.
It will advance ONLY AS FAR AS THE FILE HAS DOWNLOADED. After a short time,
when the file has downloaded completely, you will be able to view the movie
in its entirety. Those of you with a high-speed or network connection may
be able to have the movies "stream" -- i.e., download at least as fast as
they play back. Those of you accessing the site via a modem will have to
wait for a while for the files to download before running the movie in its
entirety. If you try to run the movie before it is totally downloaded, you
will see it only as far as it has downloaded at that point.
By the way, the Giffels web-site uses ActiveProject (TM), the web-based
project collaboration software by Framework Technologies Corporation
<www.frametech.com>.
For more information on this urban simulation technique you can contact
Gerry Kaplan at Giffels Strategic Consulting, LLC. e-mail
<gkaplan@giffels-gsc.com>; phone (248) 936-8722.
2) HONEYWELL GOES DOT-COM
A few months after list members (and Honeywell alumni) Chris Markert and
Mike Crowe -- and several other former Honeywell people -- launched
EggSystems.com (the company) and <www.eggsystems.com> (the web-site),
Honeywell has now launched its "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"
site, called <MyFacilities.com> as outlined in the following press release
from late June:
> Honeywell launches facility manager site
> MORRISTOWN, NJ – Building controls manufacturer Honeywell International Inc.
> (NYSE:HON) has launched MyFacilities.com, a Web site offering services, tools
> and resources targeting facility management professionals.
>
> The Web site offers resources and information on current facility management
> techniques, technologies and trends, including access to codes and standards,
> case studies and white papers and links to industry organizations and
> publications.
>
> Honeywell says the site will soon be e-commerce-enabled, linking facility
> managers and suppliers. It also will offer Web-enabled software applications
> putting a facility manager's operations data online.
>
> Honeywell estimates that facilities managers currently participate in about
> $1.2 trillion in transactions with suppliers annually worldwide.
>
> Michael R. Bonsignore, Honeywell chairman/CEO, says "MyFacilities.com creates
> important new ways for solutions providers and service contractors to help
> facility managers significantly improve the efficiency of their enterprise, by
> improving the management and operating performance of their buildings and
> facilities." Honeywell says it is actively seeking other leading companies to
> share sponsorship and to provide additional offerings through the site.
3) JCAHO ENVIRONMENT OF CARE STANDARD REVISIONS FOR 2001
As noted on the JCAHO web site at
<http://www.jcaho.org/standard/stds2001_mpfrm.html>, there are two revised
sections of the Environment of Care standard that will become effective
January 1, 2000 -- less than six months away.
Standard EC.1.6, dealing with emergency management, adds language which
moves the emphasis past emergency response, toward a more comprehensive
emergency management approach. For example, a hazard vulnerability analysis
is called for and is to form the factual basis for developing emergency
preparedness actions and responses.
Standard EC.1.9, dealing with utility systems management, puts added
emphasis on mitigating risk of hospital-acquired illness due to faulty
design and / or maintenance of HVAC-related systems and equipment. The
standard specifically refers to (1) pathogenic biological agents in cooling
towers, domestic hot water, and other aerosolizing water systems; and (2)
appropriate pressure relationships, air exchange rates, and filtration
efficiencies for ventilation systems serving areas specially designed to
control air borne contaminants (such as biological agents, gases, fumes, and
dust)
4) MICHIGAN BLUES ON A SAFETY KICK
The following item, revelant only to those of you associated with Michigan
healthcare providers or educational institutions, comes my way via Pasadena,
California and list member Thaine Allison. Note the August 30 deadline for
grant proposals.
While the focus seems to be on clinical errors, nothing in the notice would
seem to rule out facility-related safety issues. Relating this item to the
prior item on revisions to Standard EC.1.9, might some Michigan institution
consider developing a proposal to fund design, implementation, and
evaluation of a demonstration compliance program to monitor HVAC and related
risks to patient health?
> Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation Announces $500,000 Grant Program
> to Reduce Accidental Injuries in Hospitals
>
>
> July 10, 2000
>
>
> Foundation seeks grant applications from Michigan medical community
>
> DETROIT, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
> Foundation is accepting grant applications from Michigan-based physicians,
> hospitals, academic institutions and others interested in developing ways to
> improve patient safety by reducing errors and accidental injuries in
> hospitals.
>
> The BCBSM Foundation will award $500,000 in grants to applicants who will
> conduct research and disseminate information on best practices that reduce
> errors and accidental injuries that occur in hospitals.
>
> Patient safety received nationwide attention earlier this year, with the
> release of a report called "To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System"
> by the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Quality in Health Care in America.
> The report estimated that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die nationwide each
> year as a result of avoidable errors that occurred in hospitals. The total
> national cost of preventable medical errors is estimated to be as much as $29
> billion per year.
>
> In June, a group of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, hospital organizations,
> health care purchasers, labor and health plans along with Blue Cross Blue
> Shield of Michigan formed the Michigan Health and Safety Coalition. The
> coalition is the first group of its kind in the state that brings together a
> diverse group of individuals and organizations committed to improving the
> safety of patient care.
>
> "The Michigan Health and Safety Coalition is working in Michigan to be a
> leader in the effort to enhance patient safety," said Marianne Udow, Blues
> senior vice president, Health Care Products and Provider Services. "The
> coalition thinks it's a critical issue as health care quality begins with
> patient safety."
>
> According to Ira Strumwasser, Ph.D., executive director and chief executive
> officer of the BCBSM Foundation and a coalition member, "We're working with
> the coalition and the health care community to enhance efforts to reduce
> medical errors that occur in hospitals. We have an excellent opportunity in
> Michigan to develop, evaluate and disseminate information on the most
> effective strategies to reduce or eliminate systemic problems that cause
> adverse patient outcomes."
>
> Michigan physicians, hospitals, health systems and academic institutions and
> others are invited to submit proposals in one of the following four areas:
>
> * Epidemiological Research -- Identification of the prevalence of specific
> errors and the conditions under which they occur.
>
> * Action-Oriented Applied Research, Demonstration and Evaluation Projects --
> Clinical analysis aimed at appropriate ways to identify, prevent and reduce
> medical errors such as refusal to accept, or processes designed to verify,
> unclear orders. Evaluation projects that develop, implement and evaluate
> innovative programs aimed at the prevention and reduction of medical errors
> that occur in hospitals, such as wrong-site surgery or incorrect medication.
>
> * New Technology -- Demonstration projects designed to develop, test,
> implement and evaluate new technology designed to reduce errors, such as
> electronic drug-ordering systems and computerized drug records.
>
> * Dissemination of Best Practices -- Dissemination of information, through
> statewide conferences and other mechanisms, on best practices to reduce errors
> and accidental injuries in hospitals.
>
> Grant proposals are due Aug. 30, 2000. Applicants must be Michigan based.
> Those applying for research grants must have medical or terminal research
> credentials. Additional information, including the grant application, may be
> obtained through the BCBSM Foundation's Web site at
> www.bcbsm.com/foundation.shtml <http://www.bcbsm.com/foundation.shtml> .
>
> The BCBSM Foundation is the philanthropic, nonprofit affiliate of BCBSM and is
> committed to improving the health of Michigan residents.
>
> SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
>
> CONTACT: Bob Tripi of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, 313-225-7975
5) CAFM WORKSHOP / SHORT COURSE
Those of you who are considering an investment in CAFM for your institution
may have an interest in this item from IFMA and Michigan State's facility
management program. The fee for this 3 day session is $550. The product
featured is "FM: System," published by Michael Schley's company of the same
name. A couple of years ago I developed a CAFM Standards Manual around the
FM: Systems product line jointly with list member Rebel Roberts at VOA
Associates and his staff for a client hospital.
I have no basis for favoring this particular CAFM product over other similar
offerings. It appears that the workshop will expose attendees to several of
the market leaders in this software category and will address software
features, policy issues, and implementation strategies that are common to
all CAFM deployments, regardless of software platform.
> Michigan State University
> and
> IFMA
> invite you to a
> Computer Aided Facility Management Workshop
>
> Where: MSU campus, East Lansing, Michigan
>
> When: August 16,17, and 18
>
> Why:
>
> * Learn about CAFM's uses, its interface with CAD, its potential to increase
> the efficiency and productivity of your department
>
> * Explore working with a CAFM program (FM Systems) in MSU's computer
> laboratories
>
> * Receive special training in using CAFM from Michael Schley and Associates at
> FM Systems
>
> * Explore various CAFM systems, such as Aperture, Archibus, FM Systems, and
> Facility Information Systems,
>
> * Earn a Michigan State University Certificate in CAFM Training and Evaluation
>
> For more information, go to:
>
> www.msu.edu/user/facmgt <http://www.msu.edu/user/facmgt>
>
> On left-hand side bar, click CAFM Shortcourse
>
> Register by contacting: facmgt@msu.edu
>
> or phone: 517.353.3938
>
> Space is limited; so register early
6) VFA ASSESSES ARMY MEDICAL FACILITIES
Congratulations to list member Peter Cholakis, Marketing Director at VFA,
Inc. on the award of condition assessments for eight U.S. Army medical
facilities, making use of VFA's web-based condition assessment and capital
renewal planning software. Peter can be reached at (617) 956-4760 or
<pcholakis@vfa.com>.
> Army facilities to undergo maintenance assessment
>
> BOSTON – Vanderweil Facility Advisors, (VFA), a provider of Web-based facility
> asset management solutions and software, has implemented its facilities
> assessment methodology for the US Army Medical Command under contract to the
> Army Health Facility Planning Agency (HFPA). VFA performed building
> assessments that established HFPA standards of facility condition at eight
> Army locations.
> The HFPA wants to achieve cost-effective use of space and capital resources
> through proactive building management. VFA's site assessments enabled the HFPA
> to inspect and review the physical state of its medical facilities, comparing
> each building with quantitative benchmarks.
> VFA's services include conducting facilities condition assessments,
> prioritizing deficiencies, establishing funding levels, capital project
> planning and risk assessment. Benchmarks can be compared at the micro, macro,
> system, building, campus and organizational levels.
> By performing thorough and consistent facility assessments at Army
> installations across the nation, the HFPA plans to develop and analyze funding
> for lifecycle maintenance and repair.
> "Facility management and capital reinvestment is a continuous cycle, one that
> is instrumental in allowing organizations to achieve their financial and
> mission goals," says Jerry Kokos, president/CEO of VFA.
> The HFPA, headquartered in Falls Church, VA, has implemented VFA applications
> at eight Army installations including sites in Colorado, Texas, Arizona and
> Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., more than 4 million
> square feet of facilities.
Dennis M. Kirkwood, FHFI, President
Kirkwood & Associates, LLC . Facility Management Consulting
407 W. Mosley Street, Suite 200 . Ann Arbor, MI 48103-4935
office & message center (734) 260-9943 . fax (734) 332-0522
e-mail dennisk@kirkwoodassociates.com
