By Healthcare Facilities Today

Today’s health care administrators face a new delivery model driven by outcomes-based care and reimbursement rates tied to patient satisfaction and compliance. Now, more than ever, operational efficiencies on the clinical and facility sides are critical to success, according to a web-exclusive article on the Health Facilities Management website.

As more organizations recognize the building as an instrument of care, they are using innovative strategies to integrate disparate building, business and clinical systems to reduce cost while providing better care. The results push the boundaries of what’s possible, the article said., detailing three examples.

• The Roy and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center, Burbank, Calif., was designed so the building and clinical offerings were complemented with integrated, future-ready technologies that would help accomplish a variety of goals, including reducing patient anxiety while receiving treatment and improving workflow between clinicians, patients and administrators.

• Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare in Memphis, Tenn. has a triple bottom line: building green, saving green and living green, according to the article. The hospital’s new technology systems include a converged IT network that supports clinical, facility and business services. The fully integrated operating rooms provide advanced options for surgeons and staff. From a central touchscreen station in each operating room, the staff is able to adjust temperature and lighting. Cameras are able to record each surgery and map it to a conference room, giving physicians in training an opportunity to observe. The converged IT network can adapt to the hospital’s changing technology for years to come.

• DuBois Regional Medical Center, DuBois, Pa., installed a secure and robust IT infrastructure comprised of both wired and wireless data network systems in a progressive effort to better leverage existing and new clinical systems and operate more efficiently and improve clinical workflow. The new network is the first step toward the ultimate goal of transforming DRMC’s IT infrastructure, communications methodology and clinical workflow to a fully converged and integrated platform.

Read the article.