Now that HIPAA has a "no-excuses" rule, what should happen?
Two experts invite you to join in a lively debate about Obama’s revival of HIPAA Privacy. Last December, the administration’s ARRA and HITECH Act resurrected HIPAA, imposing a ‘no-excuses’ policy and serious $1.5MM fines. But taking HIPAA literally means most hospitals will never fully comply and, for the most part, breaches will be in the best interest of patients. In opening remarks, expert #1 Susan Mazer challenges you to consider how the design and maintenance of your facilities is a major key to complying with the intent HIPAA Privacy while enabling fluid communication among doctors and nurses—a difficult balance to achieve. Expert #2 David Sykes invites you to consider the “carrot and stick” in the new 2010 AIA/ASHE Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities (drafted by Mr. Sykes’ ANSI committee and published in January). The Guidelines contain the first precise, measureable HIPAA Privacy criteria for enforcing the oral communication requirement. How do they work? What are the incentives for HIPAA compliance beyond avoiding fines and penalties?  What is the relationship between LEED and HIPAA? The audience is invited to participate in this discussion of HIPAA Privacy, an issue that has reared its head again.

LEARNING  OBJECTIVES:
1. Identify three building factors that impact privacy and confidentiality 
2. List three facility modifications that will improve patient privacy 
3. List three risk factors related to patient privacy and confidentiality 
4. Define the balance between privacy and accessibility 

A recent newspaper article stated: “In the world of technology, inventors are hailed as heroes. Yet it is more subtle forms of innovation that typically determine the impact of a technology in the marketplace and on society. Clever engineering, smart business models and favorable economics are the key ingredients of widespread adoption and commercial success. Medical experts agree that electronic medical records (EMR), when used wisely, can help curb costs and improve care.    EMR is about a single, ubiquitously accessible patient record, but serving as a platform for process flow of patient orders, it becomes a powerful tool to improve flow by eliminating unnecessary steps in the care process by improving the flow of patient care.  This session will discuss the how to load EMR into your facility from planning the implementation and required infrastructure and systems integration opportunities.  It will discuss a new LEAN based concept - an EMR based centralized Control Center that can be used to improve throughput and take care to a more cellular based delivery mode.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1.  How to plan for EMR – systems analysis, infrastructure impact, space planning and budgeting; how different EMR systems impact your facility
2.  Discuss how the control center concept combined with EHR contributes to lean management of resources in the healthcare environment.
3.  Understand the key 'process flow' issues and how EMR can be used to create optimization of flow.
4.  Identify technologies, systems and equipment integration strategies needed for a viable control center.

Hospitals and healthcare facilities will need to accommodate the rising number of obese patrons supporting dignified care that is effective and safe for both the patient and the provider. The 2010 Edition of the Guidelines for Design and Construction of Health Care Facilities (FGI Guidelines) presents new guidelines for designing bariatric patient environments. The purpose of this presentation is to introduce pertinent statistics and facts on obesity and bariatric care as it relates to designing healthcare environments, present research on safe handling and design implications for accommodating obese patients, and review the new bariatric guidelines from the 2010 FGI Guidelines for the design of safe and healthy environmenta. A presentation illustrating successful design of patient environments and products that accommodate obese patients will provide real solutions including patient handling, space and environment considerations, equipment needs, and staff related issues.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Demonstrate knowledge related to obesity & bariatric patient populations for determining design direction for accommodating the obese patient
2. Understand research related to bariatrics and the design of environments supporting a safe and comfortable environment for patients & staff
3. Demonstrate an understanding of the new bariatric guidelines as presented in the 2010 Ed. FGI Guidelines
4. Utilize design guidelines and experience to design and specify safe environments for patients and staff

Excess noise and vibration have adverse effects on patients, staff, and profitability of healthcare facilities. They have had negative influence on patients’ overall wellbeing while they have been potential sources of distraction and fatigue for staff. Today’s medical facilities rely on high-tech imaging equipment and operating rooms that are very sensitive to floor vibrations. One of the main sources of revenue for most medical facilities depends on properly functioning imaging and operating rooms. Therefore, it has become critical to build medical facilities that can generate revenue and become profitable in the shortest period. The most cost effective methods to address these dynamic issues will be discussed. The presenters will provide information on the importance of noise and vibration, their root causes, preventive and reactive measures, and consequences of doing nothing. Floor vibrations in imaging areas and operating rooms in a hospital will be discussed.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
1. Learn how important noise and vibration are to your customers, patients, and staff.
2. Learn how reduced noise and vibration could be a cost reduction measure resulting in increased profit.
3. Understand the preventive and reactive measures and their influence on healthcare facilities.
4. Acquire cost effective ways to address these dynamic issues.