4 minute read
Editor’s Note
from CHF Winter 2021
by MediaEdge
ADAPTING IN THE FACE OF CHANGE
IT WASN’T LONG AGO that I thought the holidays were going to be different than 2020. If I were a betting woman, I would’ve put money on it. But I’ve since learned not to gamble on COVID. The newest variant has spread fast and furious, quickly putting an end to Christmas plans. What the virus has in store for 2022 is anyone’s guess. However, after two years of the pandemic, I remain hopeful that we are nearing its end. Unfortunately, Canada’s healthcare system has suffered greatly and it will take years to recover from the damage wrought by the pandemic. Burnt-out nurses that have been pushed beyond their limits are quitting in droves and there’s a backlog of more than half a million surgeries. Perhaps never before in history has a single event exposed the fragility of our healthcare system.
While not broken per se, much needs to be done to make the system more resilient to future shocks. This includes not only subsequent pandemics but the effects of climate change, bringing us to Designing for the Future. In this article, author Rebecca Melnyk delves into the Climate Resilience Guidelines for Health Facility Planning and Design in British Columbia, which were recently developed to help ensure new healthcare facilities are better equipped to deal with the increasing challenges of climate change, including extreme heat and humidity, air quality impacts, flooding and extreme events.
But to begin is our cover story on Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital. The first all-new hospital constructed in Ontario in more than 30 years officially opened as a full-service hospital in June 2021, after exclusively being dedicated to the COVID-19 response. For four months, the state-ofthe-art healthcare facility operated to alleviate the significant strain on the province’s hospital system, housing critically ill COVID patients.
Another Ontario hospital spotlighted is Markham Stouffville Hospital. The 329-bed facility deserves kudos for its water efficiency strategy, which has reduced consumption by more than 20 per cent. The hospital’s manager of energy and infrastructure, Allan Kelly, details the program in Kick into Conservation Mode.
Rounding out this issue, we explore the importance of working with the right restoration services contractor and how to find the best fit in Don’t Leave Disaster Recovery to Chance. We then close with top trends in green healthcare, based on data collected from the Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care’s Green Hospital Scorecard.
Clare Tattersall claret@mediaedge.ca
Reproduction or adoption of articles appearing in Canadian Healthcare Facilities is authorized subject to acknowledgement of the source. Opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society. For information or permission to quote, reprint or translate articles contained in this publication, please write or contact the editor.
Canadian Healthcare Facilities Magazine Rate
Extra Copies (members only)
25 per issue Canadian Healthcare Facilities (non members) 30 per issue Canadian Healthcare Facilities (non members) 80 for 4 issues A subscription to Canadian Healthcare Facilities is included in yearly CHES membership fees. La reproduction ou l’adaptation d’articles parus dans le Journal trimestriel de la Société canadienne d’ingénierie des services de santé est autorisée à la condition que la source soit indiquée. Les opinions exprimées dans les articles sont celles des auteurs, qui ne sont pas nécessairement celles de la Société canadienne d’ingénierie des services de santé. Pour information ou permission de citer, réimprimer ou traduire des articles contenus dans la présente publication, veuillez vous adresser à la rédactrice.
Prix d’achat du Journal trimestriel
Exemplaires additionnels (membres seulement) Journal trimestriel (non-membres)
25 par numéro 30 par numéro Journal trimestriel (non-membres) 80 pour quatre numéros L’abonnement au Journal trimestriel est inclus dans la cotisation annuelle de la SCISS.
2022 Webinar Series
Time:
0900 BC/1000 AB & SK*/1100 MB/1200 ON & QC/1300 NS & NB/1330 NL One hour in length *SK – 1000 during Daylight Savings time; otherwise 1100
Wednesday January 26, 2022 Humanization of Long-Term Care
Speakers: Tariq Amlani, P. Eng. Senior Principal, Global Healthcare Sector Lead, Stantec Leonora Leclerc, Architect AIBC, Principal, Vancouver Healthcare Studio Lead, Vancouver Integrated Healthcare Design Studio
Wednesday February 23, 2022 Managing Virus Threats with Proper Air Filtration
Speakers: Jason Turner, Camfill Canada Inc.
Wednesday March 23, 2022 Infection Control Red Flags During New Hospital Construction
Speakers: Jim Gauthier, Diversey
Wednesday April 20, 2022 Ventilation and isolation room design in the COVID-19 era
Speaker: Jessica Fullerton, B.Sc., M.Sc., CIC Nick Stark, P. Eng., CED, LEED AP, ICD.D
Wednesday May 18, 2022 Z317.1 Plumbing Installation in Health Care Facilities - Update Session
Speaker: TBD
Wednesday June 22, 2022 The Brave New World of Infection Control during Construction – CSA Z317.13-22
Speaker: Gordon D. Burrill, P.Eng., CCHFM, FASHE, CHFM, CHC
Wednesday October 19, 2022 CSA C282 Emergency electrical power supply for buildings for Designers and Changes for 2019 Edition
Speaker: Ken Blazey, Power Solutions Consultant, CSA TSC Member & 2021 Award of Merit Recipient
Wednesday November 16, 2022 Z32-21 Electrical Safety and essential electrical systems in health care facilities Update Session
Speaker: Kevin Cheong, CSA TSC Member Simon Aspinwall, CSA TSC Member
