Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey, Inc.
Serving Healthcare Since 1949
*** General Membership Meeting***
Minutes to the Meeting of
May 17, 2007
President John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE called the meeting to order on Thursday, May 17, 2007, at the Galloping Hill Inn, Union, New Jersey, commencing at 6:05 p.m. President Elect Ben DiFranco CHFM lead everyone in the pledge of allegiance. Self-introductions were made by all in attendance.
SPONSOR
The sponsors for this eveningÕs meeting were URS Corporation and Bentley Prince Street Inc.
EDUCATIONAL SESSION TOPIC
The educational session was presented by one of our favorite annual speakers; Mr. Anthony Monaco, Specialist for the New Jersey Department of Health and Social Services. Mr. Monaco gave and in-depth educational presentation of the latest standards concerning the control of TB in healthcare facilities, then fielded questions from the audience.
President John DiGirolomo thanked Specialist Anthony Monaco and representatives of URS and Bentley Prince Street Inc.
.
DINNER BREAK.
PRESIDENTÕS REPORT
John DiGirolomo CHFM, SASHE turned the floor over to Roger Ennis the Golf Outing Committee Chair, Roger reminded all those in attendance that the deadline for registering for the 2007 HFMSNJ golf outing needed to be received no later than June 5th.
It was announced that ASHE has now made 3 free passes available to the CHFM test to any chapter receiving the level gold status, each test is worth $275.00, other than meeting the eligibility requirement for the exam the only other caveat is that any one interested please register prior to December 1st 2007. John also shared that ASHE would have a pencil & paper exam available at this yearÕs annual conference and trade show in New Orleans.
John also took a moment to let everyone know that he, Bill Anderson CHFM, FASHE and Dan Campbell of the Del-Val chapter recently conducted a CHFM prep course which was well attended and included many members of the HFMSNJ.
As previously discussed at an earlier meeting this year, John let the group know that HR 378, the zero manual handling guideline bill introduced by OSHA in an effort to reduce back injuries to healthcare employees is currently in committee under going modification. ASHE was opposed to this bill in its original form as it would require immediate significant upgrades to facilities and enormous numbers of portable lift assistance devices.
PRESIDENT-ELECTÕS REPORT
Ben DiFranco CHFM reminded the group ASHE membership applications and CHFM exam applications are available at each months meeting.
Ben let the group know to be on the look out of for brochures to sign up for the HFMSNJ all day seminar.
The annual field trip scheduled for August has come down to two possible locations; Sarco for a look at steam product production or ASCO for electrical components. Ben announced that an email would be going out to poll the membership as to which location to chose. Charlie Church asked if CEU's would be available from the field trip, Ben assured everyone that ASHE will sanction the trip and offer credits for the educational topic.
TREASURERÕS REPORT
Bill Anderson, CHFM, FASHE presented the following synapses of the 2007 budget:
Beginning Balance: $68,796.08
Disbursements: $4,069.95
Deposits: $7,955.80
Ending Balance: $72,681.93
The organization is solvent.
Bill informed the group that we are beginning to see income as a result of the golf outing registration.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
Edward Fay informed the committee that the first quarter of 2007Õs education certificates are now available for interested members.
Ed also announced to the group that he would offer to the membership a copy of a correspondence between Skip Wilson from the Standards Interpretation Group and George Mills Senior Engineer indicating that the Joint Commission would allow clinical need locking to OB, Pediatric and AlzheimerÕs units.
ADVOCACY
Roger Roop announced that there were no major events pending for advocacy, but that Roger had been contacted by Dave Uhaze from the DCA, Dave wanted to let the membership know that the current AIA code was coming up for comments and that anyone interested and seeking changes should contact Roger.
NEWSLETTER
John Schliewenz had no report but wanted remind everyone that although he has articles left over from last quarter he could still use any information the members would like to see included and that he plans to have the next news letter out before the June meeting.
MEMBERSHIP
Peter Appelmann brought three regulator members forward for consideration of membership, both were escorted out by George Thomas CHFM, FASHE.
á George Young - Saint ClaireÕs Hospital
á Fred Eilinger – Pascack Valley Hospital
á Jimmy Koblas - Holly Name Hospital
All three new members were unanimously inducted
WEBSITE
All the updates to the site have been completed.
Oscar Gonzalez CHFM, SASHE asked all the members to please contact him via email with any professional contacts so that he may solicit ads for the 2007 ad journal as the deadline of June 30th is fast approaching.
EAB
James Corueil gave out a copy of a New Jersey Hospital Association memo detailing how Govern Corzine plans to continue the lack of adequate funding to hospitals and that the idea of a "bed tax" is still viable, Jim asked the membership to advocate against the proposed budgets through use of a hyper link that automatically contacts your areas elected politicians on the HFMSNJ website home page
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
George Thomas FASHE, CHFM asked the membership to start thinking about prospective candidates for Facility Manager of the Year recipient now for next yearsÕ event.
AUDIT & NOMINATING COMMITTEE
No report
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Frank Keller announced to the membership that we have a date of Saturday June 16th for our community assistance day. An elderly gentleman in Fords New Jersey is in danger of receiving fines for failing to keep his yard cleaned up. Frank told the membership that it should be no more than basic shrub and brush removal and Frank would have a dumpster delivered.
Frank also asked the membership to please be on the look out for an email reminder coming out about the next bridges run coming up in June.
DOH UPDATES
James Corueil announced that during a recent inspection the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection requested 5 years of documentation showing receipt of low sulfur fuel for his generator fuel supply.
Jim also let the group know to please make sure your generator records from your weekly inspections or monthly run tests have the correct corresponding hours, and to keep proof available should a power outage have caused a discrepancy.
NFPA UPDATES
No Report
JOINT COMMISSION UPDATES
Oscar Gonzalez CHFM, SASHE informed everyone he received an unannounced Joint Commission Inspection approximately 3 weeks ago. As a result Oscar urged everyone effected to please be sure to consider conducting a risk assessment on your SOC's as interim life safety measures may be required.
John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE let the group know that through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson foundation the Joint Commission would be conducting a survey on smoke free campuses. Over 4,200 accredited facilities will be surveyed, measuring the pros and cons of their existing smoking policies.
John also spoke about some major changes to the EC.410 & 420 standards, and that 410 would basically become its own standard with many elements of performance for emergency preparedness.
OLD BUSINESS
No ÒOld BusinessÓ was discussed.
NEW BUSINESS
No other "New Business" was discussed
ASHE
John also urged eligible members of the group to consider taking the CHFM test
GOOD OF THE ORDER
George Thomas FASHE, CHFM announced in light if the fact that currently Joe Rawson our region 2 ASHE representatives would be running for ASHE president, Ben DiFranco CHFM will be running for Region 2 representative.
George urged the membership to support Ben in his endeavor.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:25 P.M.