Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey, Inc.

Serving Healthcare Since 1949

 

 

*** General Membership Meeting***

 

Minutes to the Meeting of

January 18, 2008

 

President John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE called the meeting to order on Thursday, January 17, 2008, at the Galloping Hill Inn, Union, New Jersey, commencing at 6:05 p.m. Sergeant-at-Arms Michael DePadova, CHFM, SASHE

lead everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Self-introductions were made by all in attendance.

 

 

SPONSOR

 

The sponsors for this evening’s meeting were PK Mechanical Services and

The Lew Corporation

 

 

 

EDUCATIONAL SESSION TOPIC

 

  The educational session was presented by Mr. Lee Waserman of the Lew Corporation. The topic of discussion was “Mold Remediation in Health Care Facilities”. There was a Power Point Presentation with a question and answer session following.

 

President John DiGirolomo thanked Mr. Wasserman and representatives of the Lew Corporation.

 

 

 

 

 

                       

DINNER BREAK.

 

 

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE announced that he, Bill Anderson, CHFM, FASHE George Thomas, CHFM, FASHE and Ben DiFranco, CHFM, SASHE would be traveling to Jacksonville Florida to take part in ASHE Committee meeting beginning a week from Friday.

 

John then announced the 2008 committee appointments

 

á               Ad Journal – Oscar Gonzalez, CHFM, SASHE (chair), Harry Segner, Peter Schmitt

á               Advocacy - Robert Roop (chair) & Gary Giovinazzo

á               ASHE Liaison – Robert Roop

á               Audit & Nominating - Joseph Berlesky, CHFM as 1st trustee has been asked to chair

á               Education – Ben DiFranco, CHFM, SAHE

á               Treasure – Bill Anderson, CHFM, FASHE

á               EAB – Hank Schurman

á               Golf – Amy DiPaolo

á               Levels of Affiliation – Edward Fay (chair), Rick Ciullo

á               Membership – Peter Applemann

á               Public Relations – George Thomas, CHFM, FASHE

á               News Letter - John Schliewenz

á               Registrar – Edward Fay

á               Sergeant-at-Arms – Michael DePadova, CHFM, SASHE

á               Audio Visual – Mark Carter

á               Social Justice - Frank Keller

á               Website - Oscar Gonzalez, CHFM, SASHE

 

The President then listed the following member’s names who have been appointed to the Engineering Advisory Board of the New Jersey Hospital Association;

 

á               Hank Schurman

á               George Thomas, CHFM, FASHE

á               Ben DiFranco, CHFM, SASHE

á               Bob Newman, CHFM

á               John Schliewenz

á               James Corueil

á               William Cutthill

 

 

   

PRESIDENT-ELECT’S REPORT

 

Ben DiFranco, CHFM, SASHE announced that the 2008 educational calendar of events has been established but sponsorship was still needed. Ben told everyone to look forward to the FBI’s return in March as well as the golf outing and that he was working on the all day educational topic and date.

 

Ben then informed the group that although he has just taken over as ASHE region 2 representative it was that time of year again and nominations were being accepted. Ben urged the membership to continue supporting and joining ASHE and he again looked forward to the society receiving the platinum level of affiliation.

 

 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

Bill Anderson, CHFM, FASHE presented the following synapses of the 2007 budget covering November to January:

 

            Beginning Balance:     $73,661.46

            Disbursements:           $25,068.28

            Deposits:                     $16,433.20

            Ending Balance:          $65,026.38

 

The organization is solvent.

 

Bill also informed the membership that the proposed 2008 operating budget has been submitted and accepted by the executive committee and the society has incorporated ASHE latest strategic plan.

 

 

SECRETARYS REPORT

 

Edward Fay informed all in attendance that the time had come to assemble all the required documentation to submit to ASHE in order to achieve the Platinum Level of Affiliation and that he may be reaching out to many of them for assistance.

 

John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE reminded everyone how important it was that members of the society join and become active with ASHE to help us continue to reach this goal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ADVOCACY

 

Robert Roop, PE expressed his concern, as he and others worked diligently on making the membership aware of the recent proposed changes to the EC standards and offering valuable tips and reminders to the group on what those changes could mean and how to comment on them. Robert felt many did not see the seriousness some of the changes could present to healthcare facilities and urged the members to take time to support ASHE and comment on them as time was running out. As an example Robert explained that if the changes were adopted as proposed deficiencies in the Environment of Care standard which current result in only 1 RFI could potentially result in 8 RFI’s.

 

 

EAB

 

Hank Schurman & George Thomas, CHFM, FASHE explained to the members how detailed many surveyors were getting with regard to the recently changed Emergency Management Standards and to expect not only staff to be questioned but possible a table top exercise be conducted during a survey.

 

 

 

GOLF OUTTING

 

Amy DiPaolo reminded everyone that this years golf outing would once again be held at Fox Hollow Country Club on Tuesday June 3rd 2008.

 

 

NEWSLETTER

 

John Schliewenz announced that President Elect Ben DiFranco, CHFM, SASHE did submit an article for the 4th quarter news letter but it was over looked. John then urged the membership to please submit and article for the 2008 1st quarter news letter.

 

PUBLIC RELATIONS

 

President John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE asked for everyone’s attention in order to recognize two past presidents who were unable to attend this years holiday party in order to receive the presidential rings;

 

John Schliewenz and Bob Newman were both recognized for their service and continued support of the organization.

 

 

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

Peter Applemann presented 4 new regular members for consideration. They are:

á                           Frank Conti – St. Barnabas Hospital

á                           Austin Murphy – Overlook Hospital

á               Quentin Weist –Bergen Regional Medical Center

á               Arthur Cardillo – Christian Healthcare

 

All were voted in unanimously

 

 

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE

 

Frank Keller opened by thanking everyone for their generous donations for the Toys-For-Tots Program at this year’s holiday party.

 

 

Frank Keller informed the group that the society will be working with an organization called HEIFER International that works to end world hunger while caring for the earth. Frank explained how a one time gift of an animal that gets donated continues to yield gifts by feeding the family through milk or eggs and its off spring continue the cycle by passing the gift on to other families. Frank informed the membership to look for an email from the secretary that would further explain HEIFER and urged the members to support that organization.

 

The membership was also informed that Frank would again be working with the organization Tooling Around The Town and is hoping to have a date for this spring to assist another family in need.

 

 

WEBSITE

 

No Report.

 

 

 

NJDOHSS UPDATES

 

No Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

NFPA UPDATES

 

No Report

 

 

 

JOINT COMMISSION UPDATES

 

 

John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE again urged the membership to comment on the proposed life safety code changes.

John also took a moment to clarify one of the recent changes to emergency management as many members were incorrectly interrupting the change. John explained how the 96 hours is not telling hospitals that they are required to have 96 hours of generator fuel or water on hand at all times necessarily but that they assess themselves for the ability to survive for 96 continuous hours with out assistance.

 

John then spoke on Life Safety Code EC 5.50 EP 3 Interim Life Safety “did you assess your PFI’s” John explained that regardless of the number of PFI a facility had, providing that had not been previously signed or “electronically locked down” failure to show significant progress in completed them would not result in a CON 4 (conditional accreditation) but a facility can receive an RFI cited under the leadership chapter.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

No “Old Business” was discussed.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Bob Newman, CHFM explained to the group that St. Peters hospital was currently going through their Joint Commission survey while simultaneously being surveyed by CMMS and NJDOHSS. Bob listed a few of the hot topics that had come up during the survey.

 

 

           

 

      

ASHE

 

 

Ben DiFranco, CHFM, SASHE reminded the members that there are applications to ASHE at every meeting and urged all members to enroll in ASHE.

  

GOOD OF THE ORDER

 

Jim Corueil informed everyone that during a recent survey a facility was cited for incorrectly identifying their fire suppression system. Jim explained how a series of sprinkler pipes were inadvertently painted green rather than red and the facility quickly rectified the situation but cautioned the membership to be aware of such issues.

 

 

           

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:36 P.M.