What about Day 2? Transitioning from Construction to Operations

By David L. Stymiest, P.E., CHFM, FASHE (at ASHE 46th Annual Conference, August 2009)
  

Introduction
Construction projects have standard approaches and processes. Facility operations, management and compliance also have standard approaches and processes. Many hospitals lack a solid process of transitioning from a construction project to operations and compliance. This affects the staff’s ability to manage systems and puts the hospital at risk of noncompliance with codes, standards, rules and regulations. This paper is intended to bridge the gap between construction and operations, providing an overview of the facility operations, management, and environment of care (EC) compliance issues and needs for Day 2 – the day after a facility opens.
  
Changing activation and turnover approaches
Early approaches to facility activation and turnover focused on the logistics of acquiring and installing new equipment and furniture, along with the facility to house it. When the facility neared completion, teams would start scheduling the building turnover sequences - department moves and patient moves.
  
Current thinking about new facilities involves much more than what must fit into it and how the facility will work. Now healthcare administrators might decide that the new facility must resolve concerns about existing service delivery shortcomings. Furthermore, they want the new facility to incorporate best practice operational models.
  
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Opening Day: Transitioning from Construction to Survey-Ready Operation

By David l. Stymiest, P.E., FASHE, CHFM (in Health Facilities Management)

Construction project turnover time is hectic. Facility activation and move-in are usually foremost and it is often difficult to get all of the compliance work done on time. Lacking a solid process for transitioning from construction to operations and survey-ready compliance at occupancy can put a hospital at risk during an early survey.

Challenges and Limitations

There are many challenges in health care facility activation. Among them are managing economic, operational, patient safety and compliance risks. The challenge in this complex undertaking is to minimize the duration while meeting all regulatory compliance requirements by initial occupancy.

Read entire article here: Opening Day