Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey, Inc.

Serving Healthcare Since 1949

 

 

*** General Membership Meeting***

 

Minutes to the Meeting of

February 21, 2008

 

President John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE called the meeting to order on Thursday, February 21, 2008, at the Galloping Hill Inn, Union, New Jersey, commencing at 6:00 p.m. John led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Self-introductions were made by all in attendance.

 

 

SPONSOR

 

The sponsors for this evening’s meeting were Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and Munson Engineering.

 

 

 

EDUCATIONAL SESSION TOPIC

 

  The educational session was presented by Mr. Mike Pomarico of Pomarico Architects. The topic of discussion was “Disaster Preparedness”. There was a Power Point Presentation with a question and answer session following.

 

President John DiGirolomo thanked Mr. Pomarico and representatives of Ingersoll Rand Security Technologies and Munson Engineering.

 

 

 

                       

DINNER BREAK.

 

 

 

 

 

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

 

John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE announced that he and Advocacy Chair Robert Roop were asked to sit on an industry expert panel to discuss a new degree in Healthcare Science.

 

John also informed everyone that ASHE was focusing their efforts on emergency preparedness with a goal to formulate a tool to better help facilities prepare for disasters.

 

   

PRESIDENT-ELECT’S REPORT

 

Ben DiFranco, CHFM, SASHE announced that the FBI is scheduled as the March education topic but as of yet they have not selected their topic. Ben urged that facility managers to invite their safety and security directors to this meeting.

Ben then reminded the group that at every meeting there are applications available for our parent organization; ASHE. Ben asked that anyone not currently a member please consider joining and went on to described how much ASHE offers for such a nominal fee.

 

The last item Ben brought to the membership was the recognition of one of our past presidents; Victor Arencibia, Ben and John presented Victor with one of the HFMSNJ gold rings emblazoned with the society’s logo.

 

 

TREASURER’S REPORT

 

Bill Anderson, FASHE CHFM presented the following synapses of the budget covering

 

            Beginning Balance:     $61,910.66

            Disbursements:           $5,558.57

            Deposits:                     $12,779.00

            Ending Balance:          $69,430.36

 

The organization is solvent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SECRETARYS REPORT

 

Edward Fay informed all in attendance that all the required documentation had been gathered and we have submitted to ASHE in order to achieve the Platinum Level of Affiliation.

 

 

EDUCATION REPORT

 

President Elect Ben DiFranco informed everyone that the All Day Seminar’s topic has been selected; Life Safety and that a tentative date of October 14, 2008 is being considered.

 

 

ADVOCACY

 

Robert Roop, PE thanked everyone for responding to his pleas to respond to the Joint Commissions request for information regarding proposed changes to the Environment of Care chapter.

 

Robert also informed everyone that New Jersey Pressure Vessel bureau is considering a change to their registration requirement in light of recent events around the country. The regulatory body is considering requiring registration of any and all types of pressurized devices. This would mean devices such as autoclaves would require undergoing the same scrutiny as high pressure boilers.

 

 

EAB

 

Hank Schurman reported on events from the most recent engineering advisory board, the first item was that a recent report shows that during Joint Commission inspections EC. 5.20 (Life Safety Code) was found to be out of compliance greater than 25% of the time, or basically 1 out of every 4 facilities surveyed was not entirely in compliance with the standard. Hank also noted that it the Reinhart Report; a federal fact finding mission into healthcare, it was discovered that hospitals are under funded.

 

Some other items from EAB included some proposed changes that may be pending to the Fire Code and that the New Jersey Hospital Association’s plan to form a sub committee focusing on hurricane preparedness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOLF OUTTING

 

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

 

 

 

NEWSLETTER

 

John Schliewenz announced he is interested in continuing the “focus on a facility” piece for the next news letter and asked that any one with information that might be worth high lighting please contact him. John also requested anyone with articles; jokes etc… please get in touch with him as he preparing the release of the 1^st quarter news letter prior to Marches meeting.

 

 

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

 

George Thomas, CHFM, FASHE announced that the HFMSNJ has selected recording secretary Edward Fay as their candidate for the 2008 Emerging Leader Award.

The membership was also informed that a nominee was needed before October for the 2008 Engineer of the Year award.

 

 

 

 

 

MEMBERSHIP

 

Peter Applemann presented 1 new regular member for consideration. He was:

·                           Thomas Tufaro – Hackensack University Hospital

           

He was voted in unanimously.

 

Arthur Cardillo of Christen Healthcare also received his membership certificate after being voted in last month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SOCIAL JUSTICE

 

Frank Keller informed the group that on behave of the society he was preparing to make the donation of $2,000.00 to organization HEIFER International that works to end world hunger while caring for the earth.

The membership was also informed by Frank that we would again be working with the organization Tooling Around The Town and is looking at date sometime in May 2008; the last item from social justice was the date of the next Bridges Run to assist the homeless scheduled for March 21 meeting at Christ Church in Summit.

 

 

WEBSITE

 

Oscar Gonzalez, CHFM, SASHE reported that there is now an on line application for the 2008 Ad Journal available on the Healthcare Facilities Management Society of New Jersey’s website and encouraged everyone to please continue their support.

 

 

 

CONSTTITUTIUON AND BYLWAS

 

President John DiGirolomo, CHFM, SASHE reminded all in attendance that proposing changes or additions are open to all eligible members at any time through out the year.

 

 

 

 

NJDOHSS UPDATES

 

Joseph Glaski, CHFM informed everyone that Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus had just come out of a 4 week CMMS inspection, Joe told everyone to pay close attention to their housekeeping detail work as it was a bone of contention with the surveyors.

 

 

 

 

 

NFPA UPDATES

 

No Report

 

 

 

JOINT COMMISSION UPDATES

 

 

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

No Report

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

No “Old Business” was discussed.

 

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

 John Schliewenz reminded the group that the Executive Hospital Engineers Club would be meeting on March 13^th at East Orange General.

           

 

      

ASHE

 

 

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

  

GOOD OF THE ORDER

 

No Information.

 

           

MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:42 P.M.