Conference Roundup

SUCCESS OF 2022 IFHE CONGRESS/CHES NATIONAL CONFERENCE A CELEBRATORY OCCASION FOR ALL

ALMOST THREE YEARS to the day of the last in-person CHES National event, hundreds of people from across the country gathered together at the 2022 conference. After a long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which dealt a heavy blow to events, the conference’s return couldn’t have come at a better time as the CHES community was yearning to meet face-to-face again. Hosted by the Ontario chapter at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, Sept. 17-21, the much-anticipated event was held in conjunction with the International Federation of Healthcare Engineering (IFHE) Congress — a planning feat not easy to pull off given the unpredictability wrought by the pandemic. The committee charged with bringing the combined event to fruition did not disappoint, as the nearly 820 attendees and more than 400 delegates can attest.

Among them was Victoria Styrna, the recipient of the Young Professionals Grant (YPG). A planner in Hamilton Health Sciences’ capital development department, Styrna was selected for her desire to attain Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, as well as to learn and network with seasoned healthcare industry professionals to further her career in the field. The grant came with the opportunity to attend the conference, with registration fees and travel expenses up to $2,000 covered, and a one-year complimentary CHES membership.

“The value of attending the conference, especially for the first time, is endless,” says Ontario chapter chair Jim McArthur, who has since moved into the role of past chair. “It offers the occasion to meet with vendors and peers that work in healthcare engineering, and it provides education sessions unique to our industry. This is particularly valuable to a newcomer in healthcare. Anyone attending for the first time recognizes the worth of a CHES conference, and it makes it easier to justify to our employers the importance of attendance.”

The YPG is given annually to young professionals who are or will become architects, engineers or technicians, or work in similar technical disciplines. Eligible candidates must be employed by a healthcare organization or company that supplies goods or services to healthcare facilities or organizations, and have worked in the healthcare field for less than five years. The number of grants awarded each year is dependent on the number of sponsors.

“I was stunned when I was notified I was the recipient of the grant (as) I do not come from an engineering background,” says Styrna, who holds an honours bachelor in interior design degree.

Styrna’s career in the healthcare industry began in 2020, two years after graduating from Sheridan College. She originally joined Hamilton Health Sciences on an 18-month contract filling in for a maternity leave as a planner at Juravinski Cancer Centre. She was hired full-time this past April, as a planner at Hamilton General Hospital, where she completes capital projects and fulfills day-to-day healthcare facility requests.

Photos courtesy Kent Waddington

Styrna says she applied for the grant because “I knew the CHES National conference would be a once in a lifetime opportunity I would enjoy to the fullest.”

And that she did.

As in years past, the Great CHES Golf Game kicked off the multi-day event, held at the Lionhead Golf Club and Conference Centre, followed by the opening night reception at the Hockey Hall of Fame. The sold-out trade show floor boasted 130 booths and the educational program covered a wide variety of topics based around the conference theme, Unleashing Innovation: Healthcare Innovation Excellence. Conference highlights included the keynote address by four-time Olympic gold medallist Hayley Wickenheiser who is regarded as one of the best female hockey players in the world and is currently working toward a medical degree, while employed simultaneously as senior director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs; facility tours of the second largest pediatric research hospital in the world, affably known as SickKids, and St. Michael’s Hospital; a day trip to Niagara Falls; and sightseeing bus tour of Toronto as part of the companion program.

Styrna’s most notable networking experience occurred at the Hockey Hall of Fame, where she conversed with members of one of Scandinavia’s top hospital architects, Link Arkitektur, amid the relaxed yet awe-inspiring atmosphere. Two days later, she attended the session, Augmented Healthcare Design of the Future, whose two speakers were from the firm.

“Their presentation was very eye-opening for me in terms of how a leading architect is using artificial intelligence in their planning, design and construction of large hospital projects,” she says.

Styrna appreciated the diverse lineup of international speakers and product vendors — a bonus of CHES hosting the IFHE Congress — and the ability to ‘rub elbows’ with a wide range of healthcare industry professionals at a multi-faceted single event, which has had a profound effect on her.

“The conference paved the way for the expansion of my professional network literally overnight. When do you ever get this opportunity?”, says Styrna, who hopes to attend the 2023 CHES National Conference in Winnipeg. “The biggest impact (has been) the incredibly diverse industry connections I have made. Who knows what new career opportunity may arise next!”

Styrna’s sentiments about the conference are shared by many, which accounts for the strong turnout. But for some, the main draw was the gala banquet. This year, Dwayne Gretzky, a 10-person band that sings renditions of classic rock and pop songs from more than 60 artists, provided the night’s entertainment. However, the high point was the presentation of awards. Health Sciences Centre Winnipeg (Wayne McLellan Award of Excellence in Healthcare Facilities Management), Mitch Weimer (Hans Burgers Award for Outstanding Contribution to Healthcare Engineering) and the

B.C. chapter were honoured by CHES, along with two other groups who were praised by IFHE. Members of the Kaiser Permanente Vacaville Medical Centre in California took to the stage to accept the first-ever Global Energy Award for the 64 per cent energy reduction at their chemical dependency reduction program facility, and 24 per cent energy curtailment at their hospital campus. The Alberta Health Services (AHS) team involved in the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital project received the International Building Award, which recognizes the importance of the design of healthcare facilities.

“(It) was a nice way to close out the project for the team, as well as to thank the contractors and staff for their hard work and perseverance throughout the project,” says AHS clinical liaison Sabrina McCormack, who represented the health authority through all phases of the project and worked with Alberta Infrastructure to ensure project objectives were reached.

More than a decade in the making, Grande Prairie Regional Hospital is a new 64,000-square-metre acute care hospital with 243 single inpatient rooms, 11 operating suites, cancer centre that features two radiation vaults, a 4,000-square-metre education program area (in partnership with Northwestern Polytechnic) for the training of nurses and other healthcare professionals, and a parkade that has 1,100 parking stalls for staff and the public, plus an additional 250 surface stalls on-site.

Hospital inpatient units fan out along the ‘curved spine’ as three Y-shaped wings. This design was adopted to optimize site utilization and light penetration to patient and staff spaces, increase net-togross area efficiency and to provide connections between adjacent units. The ‘Y’ also minimizes walking distances for staff within the various inpatient units.

Every inpatient room is single-occupancy, with the exception of twin rooms in the neonatal intensive care unit, and has a fold-down sleep space to accommodate a family member or caregiver staying with the patient. Each room is also equipped to allow for patient direct input over their environmental settings and ergonomic positioning of their bed.

Access to areas of respite were design priorities. The main public corridor, known as Main Street, that connects the inpatient side to the diagnostic wing includes seating, and there are quiet areas for families on the inpatient units and family lounges in critical care areas. Two courtyards exist off Main Street for patients, students, staff and the public to enjoy. The Prayer and Reflection Room is a space for meditation, reflection, quiet time and prayer for individuals of all religious faiths and non-religious beliefs.

Also of importance was providing connections to the outdoors for its calming effect. This was achieved by the inclusion of large windows in the main public corridor and patient rooms, the latter of which provide views of nearby Bear Creek, ceiling graphics of

nature in the radiation vaults, and more than 60 images showcasing the beauty and talent of the surrounding region displayed on walls in key zones throughout the facility like entries, waiting lobbies and areas of respite.

“Several photos, shot and submitted by area residents, have been transformed into large-scale graphics,” says McCormack. “These images, selected (from more than 1,300 photos) by a working group of local staff and stakeholders, serve as a unique reflection of the spirit of the region.”

Indigenous stakeholders from the region worked with AHS representatives at the site with the goal of making the new hospital a culturally safe space. An art installation and traditional drum created by Indigenous artists are displayed in the main entrance along with a land acknowledgement. As a result of this engagement work, smudging is available by request in patient rooms. Staff work with facilities personnel to ensure appropriate ventilation to the areas where the smudging will take place.

Grande Prairie Regional Hospital opened in December 2021, after years of delay attributed to a myriad of factors, including a change in contractors in 2018, and COVID-19. The pandemic presented several unique challenges that were both unanticipated and beyond the health authority’s control.

“From supply chain issues and changing travel restrictions to uninstalling and sending equipment to COVID-19 field hospitals, the project encountered it all,” says McCormack. For instance, “We were made aware of delays in the manufacturing of hospital-grade textiles and upholstery related to the COVID situation in certain jurisdictions. In addition, specific specialized equipment was in high-demand throughout North America and the world due to the pandemic, leading to limited availability. Thankfully, we were able to work with our various suppliers to find solutions and move forward.”

Travel during the pandemic presented challenges with vendor site visits and coordination. At times, in lieu of site visits, virtual video reviews were conducted and site photos sent to vendors to assess construction progress before equipment shipment and installation. McCormack says the process ended up working well; timely and detailed documentation and clear communication were required so vendors could confidently make decisions.

Another challenge stemmed from several specialty vendors being located in the United States. This presented delays in workers arriving on-site. Construction progress had to pivot accordingly to accommodate the change in schedule.

Now, almost a year into its operation, the wait was well worth it, as the hospital is receiving critical acclaim and, more importantly, providing much-needed healthcare services, including emergency and trauma services, surgery, obstetrics, inpatient mental health, critical care, outpatient clinics and more.

UNLOCK SUPERIOR HYGIENE AND RESTROOM CLEANLINESS

To keep germs at bay, it is imperative for health care providers to maintain a sanitary and clean facility. That’s why some facilities are revamping their restrooms by throwing in the towel—replacing paper with high-speed, energy-efficient electric hand dryers to foster a hygienic environment that benefits patients, staff and visitors alike.

Today’s facilities have quite a few options when it comes to paper towel alternatives, but many choose hand dryers made by Excel Dryer, the company that first established the high-speed, energy-efficient category for hand dryers. In addition to the original, flagship XLERATOR® Hand Dryer, the company has expanded its product line with three additional models: • XLERATORsync® Hand Dryer, a sink-mounted, elegant dryer that elevates the look and feel of any restroom • XLERATOReco® Hand Dryer, an extremely environmentally friendly product that uses no heat technology to dry hands fast using only 500 watts • ThinAir® Hand Dryer, a sleek, space-saving model designed to be fully ADA-compliant when surface mounted

While these products differ in capabilities and design, facilities rely on all of them for improved hand hygiene and a cleaner, more efficient restroom experience. Let’s explore why Excel Dryer’s products are the right choice for your health care facility.

A LOOK AT THE FACTS There is no question that hand drying is an essential aspect of proper hand hygiene. In fact, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that “germs spread more easily when hands are wet, so make sure to dry your hands completely, whatever method you use.”

Relying fully on paper towels can lead to issues that don’t occur when electric hand dryers are in use. Have you ever walked into a restroom and noticed used, wet paper towels strewn across the countertops, covering the floors or overflowing in a trash bin? These used paper towels are a breeding ground for viruses and bacteria and contribute to creating a very unhygienic restroom.

It’s not just used paper towels that help create unsanitary restroom environments—according to one study in the American Journal of Infection Control, 100- to 1,000fold more bacteria were found on recycled paper towels than a virgin wood pulp brand, and bacteria may be transferred to people after handwashing.

Not only do Excel Dryer’s innovative products create a sanitary environment by eliminating dirty paper towels, but they also help reduce the overall spread of germs throughout a facility by reducing the number of touchpoints in the restroom. Each hand dryer made by Excel Dryer uses automatic sensors that turn the dryer on when it detects hands underneath, fostering a more hygienic facility as 80 percent of all germs are transmitted by touch.

While it’s impossible to eliminate germs in bathrooms entirely, there are some hand drying solutions that provide greater protection than others. A HEPA filtration system is available as an optional feature on some of the dryers on the product line—it comes standard on one model and can be easily retrofitted on others. Results of testing from LMS Technologies found that this HEPA filtration system removes 99.999% of viruses and 99.97% of potentially present bacteria at 0.3 microns from the airstream.

A HOSPITAL THROWS IN THE TOWEL Some health care facilities have already made the switch to using electric hand dryers in their restrooms and have seen major benefits. When Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) began its refurbishment program to reduce maintenance needs and improve sanitation in its many staff and public restrooms, it turned to Excel Dryer for help. Going into the project, the hospital was constantly plagued by restroom plumbing and maintenance issues related to paper towels, as well as issues with dirty and wet paper towels piling around and in trash receptacles.

The NMH Infection Control board eventually concluded that dryers with traditional high-velocity heated air streams were the most hygienic option for the restroom refurbishment project, citing concerns that trough-style dryers could lead to unwanted bacteria growth from stagnant water that collects at the bottom of the trough. The hospital subsequently installed over 120 XLERATOR® Hand Dryers at their main campus, meeting their infection control board’s rigorous hand hygiene standards and reducing maintenance problems caused by paper towels.

If you are inspired by Northwestern Memorial Hospital’s successes, or if you are committed to creating a more hygienic environment in your health care facility’s restrooms, consider partnering with Excel Dryer to install high-speed, energyefficient and hygienic hand dryers. Visit ExcelDryer.com to learn more and to get started.