Studies have shown that the environment of care affects outcomes and has an impact on factors such as patient and employee satisfaction, health outcomes and overall health care quality. This research has led to an increase in the use of “evidence-based design” in hospitals and healthcare facilities across the country.  Improving the appearance, the environment and the safe, efficient operation of your medical facility requires careful, long-term planning but is well worth the effort. To help your organization anticipate, prioritize, and budget for repair and replacement of essential building components and for improved spaces for patients and employees, it is vital to develop a planned “CAPITAL” maintenance program that prioritizes needs and supports capital budget planning. 

 

As a result of budget constraints over recent years, facilities managers are realizing the effects of deferred maintenance in both the reliable function of systems and the appearance/condition of the facility.  Competition for capital dollars against the request for new services, spaces, and technology is fierce. Asking for emergency funding for repair/replacement when equipment fails is always more expensive and the impact of unplanned downtime can be significant on hospital operations as well as question the credibility of the facilities department.  Developing a “planned” program can have great influence on others to not only understand the financial investment necessary to maintain an appropriate healthcare environment but also demonstrates a facility department’s planning and organizational skills.

 

The planned program should also include opportunities to improve patient experience, clinical outcomes, research, and education.  Part two of this session will detail how Cleveland Clinic addressed the intrinsic link between a person’s health and their environment. In this sense, environment includes the air one breathes and the water they drink, their behaviors, including exercise and nutrition, and their values, including their choice of health care system.  When it came time to build a new home for Functional Medicine, Cleveland Clinic used the WELL Building Standard to tie these elements together.  Completed in late 2016, Mark Hyman, MD and his team are seeing outpatients at the new Cleveland Clinic Center for Functional Medicine located on the Main Campus.  The space is planned with windows with beautiful views, ready access to natural settings, fitness opportunities, and healthy foods, all of which are included in new standards defining healthy environments. The water and air quality will meet the highest standards and the space will feature Cleveland Clinic’s aesthetic standard that emphasizes beauty and contemplative spaces.