Medical Construction & Design

JUL-AUG 2015

Medical Construction & Design (MCD) is the industry's leading source for news and information and reaches all disciplines involved in the healthcare construction and design process.

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2 Communication on demand Throughout the construc- tion process, it is imperative that those who could be af ected — patients, staf or vendors making deliveries — remain informed of the project's progress and status. Has the staf entrance changed? Has the maternity department been temporarily re- located? Have ambulance paths been altered? One of the best tools for sharing updates with everyone impacted is through smartphone apps. For example, the app used during The Palo Alto Medical Foundation San Carlos Center project in San Carlos, California, allowed anyone from the facility, project team or community to monitor daily construction activities, milestones, events and the lat- est project photos through an information-sharing platform. The app, named Project Corners, was developed to create a real-time view of high-level project informa- tion. Using the app, the team was able to relay informa- tion quickly and easily. In the past, jobsites relied on publishing a monthly newslet- ter, but information in the newsletter could easily become outdated, it was challenging to circulate and it was not particularly environmentally friendly. The app was initially piloted during the University of Florida — Reitz Union Building project. The university wanted an innovative way to keep the students, faculty and staff aware of construction activities, and so Project Corners was born. Over 300 students downloaded the app during construction. At Palo Alto Medical Foundation, the app made a huge difference in how construction was perceived by the client, hospital staff and patients, who now could track everything from progress photos, team announce- ments, schedules and logistics from their phones. On an active jobsite, where communication is paramount, this level of transparency was a game-changer. 3 Real-time monitoring As intensive care units continue to be a common area for expansion and renovation, the need to protect ICU patients during the construction process remains crucial to planning. Technology can play a big role in this. For example, an app was conceived while building a new neonatal intensive care unit around the existing unit at Tampa General Hospital. While working around an ICU area, it is imperative that the construction team be able to constantly monitor and immediately respond to any slight environmental change — such as noise levels and air quality — in the adjacent ICU. The team designed an app to allow members to monitor a variety of environ- mental data in the area. If these levels go higher than the pre-set thresholds, the team receives a text and email alert notifying them of the potential environ- mental threat in order to react immedi- ately to solve potential problems before they occur. It allows the construction team to monitor conditions in real time to ensure patients continue to receive care in a safe environment throughout From left: A "Where's Freddy?" cutout was moved every day on the Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children construction site for the children to fi nd from their window. The inSite Monitor app was fi rst used on the Tampa General Hospital Neonatal intensive care unit project in Tampa, Florida. MCDM AG.COM | J U LY/AUGUST 2015 | Medical Construction & Design 45

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