November 2022
The last few years tested the healthcare industry in unanticipated ways, adding stress on systems to contain costs in a tight labor market all while preparing for economic uncertainty. Despite the challenges, the medical office sector remains one of the most resilient commercial real estate sectors, and investors view it as a key alternative asset class due to unwavering demand.

Global real estate and professional services firm JLL’s new Healthcare and Medical Office Perspective details key themes currently affecting U.S. healthcare systems and medical office owners and operators, including labor challenges, elevated costs and industry disruptions. These factors, among others, put pressure on health system margins and provider performance, yet the industry continues to adapt and grow.

Hospital facility management is a lot like chess.

In this case, the facility is the chess board, and your opponents are time, water, gravity, grime and other wear.

The best chance of winning this high-stakes chess game is to take a proactive approach to counteract any of the moves the facility might make.

AkitaBox suggests five proactive strategies to help prevent mistakes and keep you ahead of
potential issues in hospital facilities management.

Does your organization house all facility data in one centralized, easy-to-access place?
Yes, my organization houses all facility data in one centralized place
No, I would like to learn more from AkitaBox about centralized facility data
Waiting room time is said to be the worst part about going to the doctor. It is the main factor influencing designers to create surroundings in healthcare that positively affect patients and guests. The Ruvo Lounge chair is designed to improve the overall wait experience.

Kwalu created the Ruvo Lounge for comfort and to keep the user connected. It features a power module at the base of the chair which enables the user to stay charged and connected for communications and work while waiting. The thickly cushioned seat and back plus the back curvature create an extremely comfortable sit and the Ruvo looks good from any angle. The tapered plinth base completes the mid-century modern styling of this chair. This lounge chair is the right choice for a reception area in a doctor's office, a small semi-private lobby area or a wellness lounge. The Ruvo seat is replaceable right where it is after installation. The concealed cleanout eliminates a debris build-up behind the seat.

Ruvo is a problem-solver for operational outcomes because patients can now just connect with their USB or USC at their seat and not have to ramble around and look for outlets. This could avoid furniture disruptions as they won't have to move tables or chairs to reach outlets. plus it increases safety for children near powered exposed wall outlets. 

For more information, visit Kwalu's Ruvo Lounge.
According to Q2 2022 statistics from Press Ganey, a leader in patient, member, employee and consumer experience across the healthcare ecosystem, more than two nurses are assaulted every hour. That equates to roughly 57 assaults per day, 1,739 assaults per month and 5,217 assaults per quarter.

"Nurses take an oath to do no harm, and many put their own safety and health at risk to help a patient," stated Jeff Doucette, DNP, R.N., NEA-BC, FACHE, FAAN, chief nursing officer, Press Ganey. "However, violence should not be considered just 'part of the job.' What’s especially concerning about these numbers is that they are likely even higher, as assaults generally go underreported by healthcare professionals — and nurses in particular."

The 24/7 Defend™ air purification portfolio offers in-ceiling solutions for air filtration and disinfection. Recognized as best practice solutions by ASHRAE and the EPA, StrataClean IQ™ and VidaShield UV24™ improve indoor air quality. Health Zone™ ceilings combine exceptional acoustics, sustainability, and functionality.

AirAssure™ panels reduce air leakage with factory-gasketed edges that seal the ceiling plane. Help create healthier, safer healing spaces with ceilings designed for superior indoor environmental quality.

by Sara Marberry - It’s been 38 years since Roger Ulrich’s study on the impact of hospital room design on patient outcomes was published in Science magazine. In a nutshell, he found that patients with window views of nature recovered quicker from surgery and needed few pain meds vs. those who had a window view of a brick wall.

This groundbreaking study put Ulrich on the map and was the reason many healthcare architects and interior designers started designing facilities with access to nature, including hospital rooms with larger windows.

University of Michigan study findings
I’m happy to report that researchers at the University of Michigan have replicated and expanded upon Ulrich’s study. In an analysis of 3,963 patients who underwent surgery at one hospital during a three-year period, they investigated mortality rates and lengths of stay for patients in rooms with windows or no windows, single vs. double occupancy, distance to the nursing station, and line of sight to clinicians.

A 10-Step Blueprint for Managing Pharmaceutical Waste in US Healthcare Facilities is a comprehensive guide from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that helps hospitals, surgery centers and urgent care facilities managers understand the applicable regulations so they can develop a compliant, holistic and cost-effective pharmaceutical waste management program. Its focus is to help managers understand EPA’s hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) as they apply to hazardous waste pharmaceuticals, but other related regulations are also discussed.

Fast reads . . .
Mohawk Group now sources and distributes to the North American market the original homogeneous sheet vinyl products manufactured by Armstrong Advanced Flooring (China) Co., Ltd., becoming the exclusive supplier. 

These well-regarded products, which are made to market-leading technology, specification and design, are available through Mohawk Group’s normal distribution and channel arrangements. Targeting healthcare and the other aligned segments, the collections are using Mohawk Group’s Medella brands: Medella HuesMedella Fleck and Medella Well. Mohawk is stocking these products in Dalton, Georgia, and shipping via Mohawk’s fleet.

The Most Innovative Product Award at the Healthcare Facilities Symposium and Expo went to AkitaBox Facility Condition Assessment Software and its team (left).

The Symposium Distinction Awards recognize design teams, projects and individuals who have made a profound contribution to the healthcare design industry and recognize the best and most innovative new products within the healthcare design and construction industry.

The Hospital, Outpatient Facilities & Medical Office Buildings Summits have hosted over 5,000 attendees in 25 major healthcare markets over the past five years. “What’s Next for Healthcare Facilities in these Unsettled Times?” will cover the future of: Acute Care | Outpatient | Tele-Health | Life Science | Hospitals | Clinics | MOBs | Retail | Mobile | Non-Clinical | Academic & Research at healthcare locations in cities nationwide.

Professionals who own, operate, design, build and finance medical buildings will explore how healthcare design, construction, operations, and regulations have changed during the past two years. Experts will examine the trends and technologies reshaping existing and future healthcare facilities. Attendees can gain valuable insights to use the next day. A Summit summary/recap and presentation materials will be provided to all attendees at the Charlotte event.

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