Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey, Inc.
Serving Healthcare Since 1949
*** General Membership Meeting***
Minutes to the Meeting of
September 20, 2007
President John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE called the meeting to order on Thursday, September 20, 2007, at the Galloping Hill Inn, Union, New Jersey, commencing at 6:05 p.m. in the absence of President Elect Ben DiFranco CHFM Edward Cichewicz lead everyone in the pledge of allegiance. John took a moment to extend sincere appreciation to everyone for their condolences on behave of Ben DiFranco during the recent passing of his mother. Self-introductions were made by all in attendance.
SPONSOR
The sponsor for this evening’s meeting was Building Performance Equipment Incorporated.
EDUCATIONAL SESSION TOPIC
The educational session was presented by Mr. Paul Finbow, representative of Roberts Lighting Control and Energy. Mr. Finbow gave and in-depth educational presentation on the latest equipment designs on air-to-air heat exchangers used to increase and improve energy efficiency in building HVAC systems, then fielded questions from the audience.
President John DiGirolomo thanked Mr. Finbow, Roberts Lighting Controls and representatives of Building Performance Equipment.
.
DINNER BREAK.
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
President John DiGirolomo CHFM, SASHE announced to the group that the results of the recent 2007 ASHE election have been announced and that Troy Martin SASHE Director of Facilities Services at Poudre Valley Hospital in Colorado has been elected to President Elect. John was also extremely pleased to announce that the Society’s very own President Elect Benedict DiFranco SASHE, CHFM was elected to ASHE region 2 representative.
John’s second piece of information was to display to the membership the plaque received in New Orleans during the American Society of Healthcare Engineering annual conference, recognizing the Healthcare Facility Management Society of New Jersey for obtaining the society’s first ever platinum level of affiliation status. John commended everyone for their work at achieving this award and told the membership that it was the work of all of them that made it a success.
PRESIDENT-ELECT’S REPORT
Ben DiFranco CHFM was unable to attend the meeting but speaking on his behalf John DiGirolomo informed everyone that Beacon Medaes would be presenting a seminar on medical gas and NFPA 99 on Wednesday October 17 at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York across the street from Madison Square Garden, anyone interested in attending should contact 1-631-948-4572 quickly as registration was closing soon.
TREASURER’S REPORT
Bill Anderson, CHFM, FASHE presented the following synapses of the 2007 budget which dated back to June and included both ASHE conference attendance and golf outing expenses:
Beginning Balance: $84,187.35
Disbursements: $29,714.05
Deposits: $29,514.00
Ending Balance: $83,987.30
The organization is solvent.
SECRETARY'S REPORT
Edward Fay informed the group that April and May’s educational certificates are now available for any interested members. Ed also offered copies of the latest changes to the New Jersey Department of Health and Social Services revised food production codes and standards, these changes were confirmed by Tony Monaco specialist for the NJDOHSS who was in attendance.
ADVOCACY
Robert Roop was unable to make the meeting but speaking on his behalf John DiGirolomo informed the membership that NFPA 99 has been re-written, in part with the assistance of many of the members of the HFMSNJ. John urged the membership to visit the ASHE website (www.ashe.org) during this comment and review period.
John reminded the membership that we have had a very successful year for advocacy and asked the membership to suggest ideas to Robert to continue our efforts.
NEWSLETTER
John Schliewenz AIA thanked the membership for their contributions to this quarter’s new letter and hoped that everyone had received their copy and had a chance to read it. The members were asked to please continue to submit information as John would like to get the year’s final issue out prior to December’s meeting.
MEMBERSHIP
Pete Applemann brought two members forward for consideration,
• Rob Zawadzki from Livingston Technologies
• George Aninwene from the Carrier Clinic
Both were escorted out by Sergeant-at-Arms Michael DePadova to allow for a vote, both individuals were voted in unanimously.
WEBSITE
Oscar Gonzalez SASHE, CHFM informed the members of two (2) new links on the website. One for employment and the second for anyone interested in taking part in the ad journal.
EAB
James Corueil wanted to inform the membership of recent proposed changes in addendum to the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code and urged everyone to be mindful of the latest commission in New Jersey whose focus is on the status of Healthcare; Jim will keep everyone aware of information that comes out of this update.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
George Thomas FASHE, CHFM had no report
AUDIT & NOMINATING COMMITTEE
No Report.
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Frank Keller reminded everyone the next bridges run was coming up in December meeting at Christ Church in Summitt New Jersey, and asked everyone to please continue to donate gently used clothing. Frank also informed the group that he was speaking with organizations for a fall project to again help a needy family and would keep everyone aware of what develops. With the holiday season right around the Corner Frank told everyone to prepare once again for the toys-for-tots drive that would accompany our December party.
AD JOURNAL
Oscar Gonzalez SASHE, CHFM thanked everyone for their participation and announced that the final product was due from the printers shortly and looked forward for a year end distribution.
DOH UPDATES
Tony Monaco Specialist for the NJDOHSS informed the group of some very important and interesting recent developments with the New Jersey Department of Health, one item pertained to a mandatory mercer screening of all patients in hospitals in an effort to reduce or control the staff infection but it is a costly test for facilities to conduct.
Currently there is a bill before the Governor that he has agreed to sign that calls for a report card on hospitals detailing their “hospital acquired infection rates” that may correlate to a recent CMS issue where preventable items may not be reimbursed. Tony felt the card made no sense since people where likely to choose a hospital due to its location and the individual’s insurance coverage than a report card. The bill is apparently being supported by the consumers unions and the AARP.
Beginning June 2007 The NJDOHSS will no longer conduct scheduled hospital acute care inspections. These inspectors have been shifted instead to ambulatory and long term care, they will continue to inspect acute facilities following complaints and occasionally on a CMS inspection but will rely on Joint Commission’s inspection process.
NFPA UPDATES
No Report
JOINT COMMISSION UPDATES
John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE informed every one to pay attention to a retraction in EC News where it was indicated that the 6 year inspection rate had been accepted by Joint Commission, although it had passed under the latest revisions to NFPA it not been officially accepted by George Mills and the Joint Commission.
OLD BUSINESS
No “Old Business” was discussed.
ASHE / NEW BUSINESS
John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE and Bill Anderson, CHFM, FASHE have been appointed to several ASHE committees and they took a few minutes to explain to the membership what these committees are working on and some of the items discussed at a recent meeting in Minneapolis Minnesota.
As members of Advocacy, Safety & Security, Disaster Recovery and Communication committees Bill and John spoke on items such as the delayed egress issue concerning infant abductions from labor and delivery wards and particular locking issues.
Another item being discussed is the OSHA bill calling for “no patient lifting” although ASHE understand supporters like the nursing advocacy they would like to see the bill tempered to a more realistic and obtainable standard. Currently the bill is stalled in the house and hasn’t reach committee.
The USP 979 laboratory requirement is another item being looked at; this requirement is losing momentum but for States like New Jersey who have already adopted it will remain in effect.
Other items being looked at by ASHE are arch flash personal protective equipment for transfer switch testing, a version of the IBC calling for a uniform healthcare code, the 6 year damper testing frequency, the introduction of life safety specialist to all healthcare facilities.
Bill Anderson indicated the communication committee is addressing the monthly ASHE periodical and will be creating an ASHE membership directory CD.
John briefed everyone on topics such as the EPA permitting process and told the group that ASHE now has a security risk assessment available on their website. ASHE is also working on surge capacity document and guidelines for forensic patient care, as well as ED disaster recovery following lesson learned from facilities in hurricane zones.
John also urged members of the group to please take an application which is available at every meeting and consider joining ASHE.
GOOD OF THE ORDER
John DiGirolomo CHFM, SASHE announced that at next months meeting nominations will open up for treasurer and secretary.
John also announced the opening of a position for a director of safety and security in southern California, any one interested should see John after the meeting for information.
The membership was informed of some fantastic news, John was pleased to announce that two members; Michael Moore of Centra State Hospital and Robert Newman of St Peters University Hospital recently took and past their Certified Healthcare Facility Managers exams achieving the “CHFM” designation.
An additional item that took place at this year’s annual ASHE conference was that President Elect Benedict DiFranco SASHE, CHFM of Mountainside Hospital and Frank DelGaudio of Essex County were officially recognized with a formal presentation of their SASHE designation.
John wished to remind any members of the society who were not already aware that at this year’s HFMSNJ’s annual holiday party ASHE president Leo M. Gehring FASHE, CHFM and his wife would be in attendance, and that during our regular meeting in June ASHE Executive Director Dale Woodin SASHE, CHFM would attend and present the education topic.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:35 P.M.