Email: info@performainc.com
  Phone: (920)336-9929
  Fax: (920)336-2899

Healthcare Facilities

Relieving Healthcare's Regulatory Compliance Through Design
Thursday, June 18, 2009

Winston Churchill in 1941 stated, "We shape our buildings and afterwards our buildings shape us."

Applying this quote to healthcare design allows us to understand that the current state of the healthcare industry is directly correlated to the facilities. Healthcare facilities feel an enormous weight to attain government reimbursements as they strive to uphold several codes and regulations heavily monitored and dictated by numerous agencies and government commissions. Architects who are aware of these pressures are more equipped to design buildings that decrease the regulatory strain which in turn helps them to meet and exceed the needs of patients.

The American Society for Healthcare Engineering outlines the codes and standards healthcare facilities face:

  • The Joint Commission: TJC certifies hospitals as having met the condition of participation required for reimbursement under the federal Medicare and Medicaid program. Healthcare Facility inspections are typically tri-annual with accreditation and survey findings made available to the public. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits nearly 19,000 healthcare organizations and programs in the United States. As an independent, not-for-profit organization, the Joint Commission is the nation's predominant standards-setting and accrediting body in healthcare.
  • AIA: American Institute of Architects publishes the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities every four to five years which includes requirements for engineering systems, infection control, and safety as well as architectural guidelines for design and construction of hospitals, outpatient facilities, and other types of health care facilities. The Joint Commission states that the Guidelines are to be used during new construction.
  • CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention releases the Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control in Health Care Facilities which offers a comprehensive, "one stop shopping" approach to environmental infection control in the healthcare environment. This comprehensive approach offers keen insight into establishing and refining management plans to reduce the potential for hospital-acquired infections and influential design factors.
  • CMS: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services provide payment to healthcare organizations that are certified as complying with Conditions of Participation and standards set forth in federal regulations.
  • OSHA: The Occupational Safety & Healthcare Administration, under the U.S Department of Labor, has authority to go into workplaces, inspect worksite conditions, cite employers found in violation of agency standards and levy fines.
  • EPA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency imposes standards to protect the environment and public health from hazardous materials and other pollutants such as Air Emissions Permitting (Clean Air Act), Waster Water Permitting (Clean Water Act), Medical Waste Incineration and Underground Storage Tanks.
  • FDA: The Food and Drug Administration requires the healthcare facility to take corrective action to protect the safety and well-being of patients, staff and visitors whenever information on a hazardous product is brought to the facility's attention.
  • USP: United States Pharmacopeia provides guidance on achieving and maintaining sterility and overall freedom from contamination of compounded pharmaceutical products.  A key element of this standard is the Environment Quality and Control requirements which establish specific design, construction operation and testing requirements for pharmacy cleanrooms.
  • NFPA: The National Fire Protection Association establishes codes, standards, guidelines and recommended practices for the prevention and control of fire. Codes are enforced by local government agencies, The Joint Commission and CMS.

As hospitals and facilities move to design more effectively for patient safety and care, it is clear to see that the role of the architect and design will positively impact the achievement of regulations in the healthcare industry. 

Bookmark and Share
<< Back
Name:
Comment: