Latest news
Healthcare facility managers are confronting multiple demands, including improving patient care, enhancing operational efficiency, advancing sustainable development, and ensuring financial performance. Experts point out that technological upgrades, sustainability concepts, and benchmarking must become core priorities, and only through their synergy can more efficient and cost-effective operations be driven. This article is the third in a series, synthesizing practical insights from leaders at EY, Trinity Health, Cape Fear Valley Health Systems, and JLL.
Healthcare facility managers struggle to balance technological, spatial, and workforce challenges. This is the second article in a series, focusing on key issues in hospital and outpatient facility management: maintenance of aging equipment, infection prevention and control, workforce shortages, and technology adoption. Experts point out that urgent issues such as equipment aging, insulation deficiencies, and talent shortages need to be addressed, and data-driven approaches and AI technology may be key to breaking the deadlock.
Facility managers at hospitals and outpatient clinics are facing the dual challenges of limited capital access and decarbonization requirements. Healthcare spending is projected to reach $7.2 trillion by 2031, but facility departments struggle to secure funding because they do not directly generate revenue. Meanwhile, healthcare organizations must address approximately 8.5% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and comply with new regulations such as the HHS Climate Pledge. Experts suggest mitigating these pressures through early involvement in planning and utilizing third-party energy services.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently issued a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) providing research grants of up to $860,000 for commercial-to-residential conversion projects, to compile conversion case studies since the COVID-19 pandemic and explore how policies, subsidies, and incentives can enhance the economic viability of such projects. Industry experts believe this initiative is expected to accelerate adaptive reuse processes, create more job opportunities for facility managers, and drive the industry toward a low-carbon, efficient transformation.
As Canada's wildfire season sets historical records, the impact of outdoor air pollution on indoor environments is increasingly significant. This article, written by Tom Kennedy, President of TSI Incorporated, explores how facility managers can address pollutants such as smoke, particulate matter, and VOCs by monitoring indoor and outdoor air quality and optimizing ventilation and filtration systems, creating a safe and healthy indoor environment for occupants.
It is estimated that unreported greenhouse gas emissions by countries amount to as much as 8.5 to 13.3 billion tons, twice the total emissions of the United States last year. Corporate reporting faces similar challenges, rooted in data access. By improving data interoperability, the potential for collective action can be unleashed, accelerating climate action.
