Germ Warfare

While new facilities allow for more patient care, working in an operating healthcare zone presents unique challenges to both developers and hospital staff.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the hospital industry has spent almost $100 billion on new facilities since 2000.

"Infection control is a big challenge," Oslec Fernandez of Tampa General Hospital said. "We will delay a job to make sure the patients are safe."

Even if a job site is completely closed off from patients, steps have to be taken to ensure their safety.

"We're never allowed to work in patient-care areas." Wayne Seifried, president of Ed Seifried Construction Inc., said.

Hospital construction work follows the infection control risk assessment, a plan which determines the level of infection control for the project based on the level of construction needed.

These assessments allow workers and staff to plan accordingly for the needs of the patients and the project deadlines.

Potential patient hazards include fires, chemical exposures and contaminated air, water or environmental surfaces.

Sue Huffman of Abatement Technologies said mold forming in wet areas can be dangerous.

The degree of mold depends on the humidity in a given area, making it particularly challenging with hospital work in humid parts of the country.

"To an immune compromised patient it can be deadly,"Huffman said.

Common methods used for infection control include sectioning off areas of the hospital with plastic air barriers and covering air vents.

At the Women and Children's Hospital in Lake Charles, LA, staff members have to follow infection control protocols on a daily basis.

"We're very aware of the construction areas," infection control officer Susie Horn said. "If we need to move the patient areas, we move them."

In addition to patient risk, developers also have to find ways of getting building materials on-site. Delivery trucks need a clear route through hospital traffic and the work zone to deliver its materials. At the same time, a truck delivering medical supplies has to be in and out before trucks bringing in building supplies arrive.

Scheduling deliveries is a cooperative effort between the hospital and the site crew. Material drivers sometimes end up sharing a drop-off zone with the trucks delivering medical supplies.

Tampa General Hospital relocated part of their loading dock and worked with the delivery schedules to keep things running smooth.

"We had cement trucks coming in at 3 a.m.," Fernandez said. "There's been a lot of coordination and planning."

Despite these challenges, the completed buildings allow hospitals to expand areas such as emergency rooms and vascular centers.

"This project was definitely needed," Fernandez said. "We knew we'd be growing and would need the space."