2024 OAHE Fall Conference Agenda

MODERN OPERATING ROOM DESIGN – GOING BEYOND ASHRAE 170

Session Abstract

In surgical operating spaces, ASHRAE 170 provides specific design guidelines to ensure patient safety. The risk of patient infection is minimized when non-aspirating airflow is provided directly over the patient table and directed towards low level return grilles.

In recent years, operating rooms have become larger and utilize more equipment. Hybrid and imaging operating rooms present a unique challenge for air distribution due to interstitial ceiling space congestion caused by the equipment and ceiling level support struts.

There have been a lot of innovative design efforts made to reduce the congestion in the ceiling space. Air distribution diffusers can include a common air plenum to reduce the overall ductwork needed and the diffusers can be integrated with overhead lighting to further reduce the required ceiling space.

The identification and proper selection of these operating spaces is key in providing an integration ceiling system that will optimize air cleanliness, cost, and installation time. 

Speaker:  Jack Carver, Price Industries, Critical Environment Design

• Jack is a Mechanical Engineering graduate from the University of Manitoba. In his role at Price, he collaborates with engineers and contractors on critical environment projects including cleanrooms, patient rooms, and OR’s. Jack also supports engineering training programs on healthcare applications at Price Technical Centers (PTC) and Price Research Center North (PRCN).​​

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Back to the Future: Succession Planning, Best Practices & Lessons Learned from our Healthcare Operational Efficiency Journey

Abstract

A seasoned facility manager, the presenter will provide observations, strategies, supporting best practices, and outcomes from Memorial Hermann’s focus on Operational Efficiency; Capital Projects Delivery, Recruitment and Succession Planning, as well as discussing the importance of Quality Control with capital construction and renovations.  In addition, Best Practices related to both facility management operations and construction are outlined along with efficiency improvements with utility consumption/energy management and the resultant improvements with facility resiliency – all as a result of the synergies of teamwork between project management, facility managers, and trusted business partners, who together have delivered over $3.5 billion in healthcare projects over the last 5 years in the Houston, Texas marketplace.

Learning Objective #1

The attendee will understand key components of Memorial Hermann’s capital construction project delivery process and take away best practices with contracts and quality control focus areas that can be incorporated into their projects.

Learning Objective #2

Attendance at this session will provide the facility manager with tools and focus areas to improve energy efficiency, reduce utility consumption, and reduce their greenhouse gas footprint – largely via improved operations and maintenance strategies.

Learning Objective #3

Attendee will participate in a timely discussion about team member recruitment, job descriptions, and recruiting that mythical ‘facility manager’, who’s multi-tasking skills, attention to detail, variety of competencies, and their affection of 70-hour work weeks makes them the ideal candidate for your open position.

Speaker: Michael Hatton
Michael Hatton, Vice President, manages “facilities”, construction, and various other support teams from a corporate level for Memorial Hermann in Houston, Texas.

In the previous 36 months, Mike has delivered 6 major hospital expansions and
Greenfield projects in the Houston suburbs with a total capital cost approaching $1.2 billion and is currently tasked with delivering over $1.37 billion in active capital projects across the Houston
region. Mike’s ‘day job’ and core competency, and first love, has always been buildings; their MEP systems, operations, equipment – proactively maintaining them at optimal energy efficiency, reliability, and survey/code readiness. Even more important, Mike is very active in our industry focusing on hospital Facilities infrastructure and energy management improvements via ASHE and other industry trade groups. Memorial Hermann grows their own healthcare facility managers/leaders and is proud of their current focus on the next generation of healthcare facility professionals with their 2021 Summer Intern program. Mike has served in the past as the ASHE’s Region 7 Advisory Board Member for Texas and its 4 surrounding states. 

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Medical Gas Professional Services

Medical gases play a pivotal role in patient care, from life-saving interventions to routine medical procedures. Compliance with stringent medical gas regulations is not merely a bureaucratic obligation but a fundamental aspect of patient safety and operational efficiency. This presentation will open the floor to discuss the multifaceted aspects of Medical Gas Compliance as it relates to current NFPA standards that healthcare facilities must navigate.

Key areas of focus include the following:
• Common Pain Points: Identification and analysis of the most prevalent challenges faced by healthcare facilities in adhering to medical gas compliance. From equipment maintenance to staff training and documentation, we will touch on these and other pain points.
• Operational Pitfalls: Examination of operational pitfalls that may compromise medical gas compliance, such as inadequate maintenance schedules, outdated infrastructure, insufficiencies in qualified/credentialed personnel to carry out appropriate maintenance, as well as other issues.
• Risk Mitigation Strategies: Practical strategies and best practices to mitigate risks associated with medical gas compliance. This section will offer tangible solutions and recommendations to empower healthcare facilities managers in their efforts to maintain a high standard of compliance.
By the end of this presentation, Healthcare Facilities Managers will be equipped with actionable insights on how to proactively address various pain points and pitfalls to enhance their overall compliance efficacy as well as the functionality of their medical gas systems.

Speakers:  David Corkran - Chief Operations Officer (COO) - ASSE/NITC Medical Gas 6020, 6030, & 6040; Cynthia Vargas- Corkran, MFS - Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Holding ASSE/NITC Medical Gas accreditations of 6020, 6030, and 6040, David Corkran is a seasoned professional with over 19 years of extensive experience in the medical gas industry, currently serving as the Chief Operations Officer of CVMG, LLC which provides medical gas compliance services in Oklahoma and Texas. He began his career in San Antonio, TX at American Precision Medical Gas company in 2005 serving central and south Texas areas where he earned the title of Operations Manager. He continued his medical gas journey with Quintech, Inc. starting in 2017 and provided services for all of Oklahoma and north Texas areas.
Previously a Deputy Contract Manager on a National Loan Servicing Contract for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Cynthia Vargas-Corkran partnered with her husband David to form CVMG, LLC. She has a Master of Forensic Science from National University as well as a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology from the University of Texas at Austin. She brings over 14 years of government contract, project management, operations streamlining, vendor management, as well as business development experience to their team.
Together through CVMG, LLC, this couple upholds their commitment to high standards of professionalism by fostering effective, synergistic collaborations with all healthcare-related stakeholders and maintaining a high level of proficiency in medical gas industry standards to ensure optimal medical gas system performance for healthcare facilities, superior client satisfaction, and most importantly, safe, quality patient care for all communities.

 REGISTER HERE FOR THE CONFERENCE