Infrastructure
Cloud-based technology will optimise healthcare systems
One of the biggest changes Johnson Controls anticipates for facilities of the future will be in hospital workflow , particularly in implementing new operating procedures to maximise experience and minimise inconvenience for patients and care givers .
“ One thing is clear , it ’ s inevitable that it will not go back to normal , and we have to accept this ,” said Kang .
One of the lasting effects of the pandemic will be the need for �flexibility� , the key word for facilities as they return to normal . For instance , they will need flexible retrofits that make standardised facility improvements for safety , efficiency , and resilience using streamlined procurement and contracting processes .
This will require the introduction of flexible controls through cloud-based technology that provide integrated user interfaces and standard control sequences to optimise facility operations under different operational and emergency conditions .
And comprehensive remote services platforms will provide flexible services in terms of safety , security , maintenance , reliability , and compliance , as well as expert advisory services under normal and emergency situations .
In this way , facilities will be able to quickly change to support different emergency and non-emergency uses . They will be able to support a range of emergency situations , including public health crises and natural disasters , and recover quickly after severe incidents .
They will also be protected from unauthorised access and be secure against cyber-attacks and data safety breaches , while also leveraging digital technology to automate systems and enable remote services .
�For flexible facilities and infrastructure , let ’ s ask ourselves if our facilities are flex-ready for different emergency advantages in a post-COVID-19 world . Are our facilities safe against security risks and ready for emergency situations ?” said Kang .
With the virus set to stay in the community for the foreseeable future , even after governments vaccinate most of their citizens , hospitals are likely to maintain the same strict precautions they implemented at the height of the pandemic , such as temperature screening on entry .
�ut the need for flexibility will also be greater than ever , for example relying on initiatives such as preparing under-utilised spaces , like car parks and storerooms , that can quickly be converted into patient treatment areas .
�We have learnt how to harness flexibility because we ’ ve been responding to a situation that we had never encountered before . In times of crisis like this , the challenges we face and the solutions we develop can be translated into healthcare for the future ,” said Kang .
“ This all helps us to create a more secure , sustainable , and safer built environment for the healthcare industry .” n
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com AUGUST 2021
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